▲ This undated file image from Yonhap News TV shows Kenneth Bae holding his book. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

missionary-N Korea radio

Former N. Korea-detained missionary Kenneth Bae seeks radio channel broadcasting to North

SEOUL, Feb. 4 (Yonhap) -- Kenneth Bae, a Korean American Christian missionary formerly detained in North Korea, said Wednesday he seeks to open a radio channel broadcasting to the North in cooperation with civic and religious groups in the South.

Bae's nonprofit organization, New Korea Foundation International, and 45 other civic and religious groups announced the plan to open the radio channel, "Korea Link," as they launched a joint association and began collecting donations for the project.

Bae said the association has already secured a radio frequency for the project. It will begin with shortwave broadcasting before expanding to medium-wave, or the standard AM broadcast band.

He said the unification of the two Koreas is the only answer for suffering North Koreans at a time when they have little chance of escaping their home country.

Bae was detained in North Korea from 2012-14 after being arrested and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for "hostile acts" against the regime. He was released in November 2014 through U.S. negotiations with Pyongyang.

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