US ready to send envoy to North Korea to secure citizen's release

The US is repeating its willingness to send an envoy to seek the freedom of an American detainee in North Korea after a pro-Pyongyang newspaper reported that such a visit was being planned.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki did not comment directly on the report in a Japan-based newspaper, which said that it briefly interviewed the detainee yesterday at a prison in the North Korean capital.

Kenneth Bae was quoted as saying he had been notified that the US envoy on North Korean human rights issues will come to meet him as early as Monday and no later than the end of the month.

Ms Psaki said the long-standing offer to send Robert King stands but did not indicate any such invitation had been extended.