A senior Seoul official said Wednesday that it appears there were no negotiations between the U.S. and North Korea before the sudden release of an American detained in the North.
 
The Seoul official said no one expected Jeffrey Edward Fowle's release and said the North’s intention to let him go remains unknown. The official said it remains to be seen how the North will deal with the two remaining American detainees.
 
Meanwhile, Washington is known to have informed Seoul of its plan to send an airplane to Pyongyang for Fowle before announcing his release.
 
A government source in South Korea refuted speculation that Washington may have kept some information from Seoul regarding Fowle's release, saying the U.S. and South Korea are keeping each other well informed on the matter. 
 
Fowle was arrested in May after leaving a Bible at a hotel in Cheongjin, North Hamgyong Province.