[15] In 2016, he founded the NGO named NGI - Nehemiah Global Initiative,[16] whose goals consist of remembering, rescuing, and recovering North Korean refugees and rebuilding their lives in China and South Korea.

Later, he studied at the San Francisco Bible College, graduating in 1996,[17] as well as at Covenant Theological Seminary, where he earned a Master's of Divinity degree in 2002.

He created a tourism company called "Nations Tour" for North Korean special economic zone visits that were stated to be Christian missionary trips.

[32] On December 21, 2012, North Korea announced that it had charged an American identified as Bae Jun-ho with "hostile acts against the republic.

"[36] A Swedish ambassador met with Bae in a hospital in August 2013; his sister reported that he was moved from the camp because of deteriorating health and after losing more than 50 pounds (23 kg).

[47] On the day he was sentenced, the United States called for the immediate release of Kenneth Bae on humanitarian grounds.

[48] During the 2013 Korean crisis, North Korea stated that the reason the country did not invite US officials to Pyongyang for Bae's release is that he is not a "political bargaining chip.

[55] On November 30, the United States called for the release of Bae and Merrill Newman, an American citizen also being detained who confessed to "indelible crimes" during his service in the Korean War.

National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said: "We continue to urge the DPRK authorities to grant [Bae] amnesty and immediate release.

We call on the DPRK once again to pardon and grant Mr. Bae special amnesty and immediately release him as a humanitarian gesture so that he too can return home to his family.

"[57] On January 20, 2014, Bae said in a statement that he had committed a "serious crime" against North Korea, and that the nation does "not abuse human rights."

It's gonna be difficult.On May 7, 2013, after reading an article from The Seattle Times,[60] former professional basketball player Dennis Rodman sent out a tweet asking his "friend" Kim Jong Un to do him "a solid" and release Bae.

[68] On January 7, 2014, while in North Korea, Rodman was asked if he would raise the issue of Kenneth Bae during a CNN interview.

[74] Bae was released by North Korean authorities on Saturday, November 8, 2014 along with fellow American Matthew Todd Miller.