The U.S. government says that it is gravely concerned about the health of American citizen Kenneth Bae who was sentenced to hard labor in North Korea.
 
Following Bae's plea for help in an interview with Japan-based pro-North Korean newspaper the Choson Sinbo, the U.S. Department of State renewed its appeals to Pyongyang to free him immediately.
 
The department added that the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang, which acts on behalf of the US in consular matters, has not been granted access to Bae since May 21.