(CNN) -- North Korea has rescinded an invitation for a U.S. envoy to visit North Korea and try to secure the release of a detained American.
Ambassador Robert King, President Barack Obama's special envoy for North Korean human rights issues, was expected to fly to the Asian nation on Friday to try to win the freedom of Kenneth Bae, an American citizen imprisoned there for carrying out "serious crimes" against Kim Jong Un's regime.
North Korean authorities detained Bae, widely reported to be a Christian missionary, last year and sentenced him to 15 years of hard labor earlier this year. They said he had planned an operation to bring down the government through religious activities.
Bae's family has said he was the owner of a tour company who was in North Korea for work.
His sister, Terri Chung, said earlier this month that Bae's health has severely deteriorated during his imprisonment and that he has been transferred to a hospital. He has spent more time in North Korean custody than any other American.
Imprisoned American's sister speaks out Imprisoned American's health failing
King was to travel to Pyongyang at North Korea's invitation, the U.S. State Department said this week.
The envoy, who has been traveling in the region, was to join a small delegation flying to North Korea's capital on an American military jet on Friday, a U.S. official told CNN this week.
King led a U.S. delegation that in 2011 secured the release of Eddie Yong Su Jun, a Korean-American businessman who was detained in North Korea for several months.
Ambassador Robert King, President Barack Obama's special envoy for North Korean human rights issues, was expected to fly to the Asian nation on Friday to try to win the freedom of Kenneth Bae, an American citizen imprisoned there for carrying out "serious crimes" against Kim Jong Un's regime.
North Korean authorities detained Bae, widely reported to be a Christian missionary, last year and sentenced him to 15 years of hard labor earlier this year. They said he had planned an operation to bring down the government through religious activities.
Bae's family has said he was the owner of a tour company who was in North Korea for work.
His sister, Terri Chung, said earlier this month that Bae's health has severely deteriorated during his imprisonment and that he has been transferred to a hospital. He has spent more time in North Korean custody than any other American.
Imprisoned American's sister speaks out Imprisoned American's health failing
King was to travel to Pyongyang at North Korea's invitation, the U.S. State Department said this week.
The envoy, who has been traveling in the region, was to join a small delegation flying to North Korea's capital on an American military jet on Friday, a U.S. official told CNN this week.
King led a U.S. delegation that in 2011 secured the release of Eddie Yong Su Jun, a Korean-American businessman who was detained in North Korea for several months.
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