( CNN ) -- The mother of Kenneth Bae has left North Korea `` more anxious than ever '' to bring her imprisoned and ailing son home . In a statement she released Tuesday , Myunghee Bae said she was able to visit her son three times and was relieved to see his health was improving . `` I was happy to see him and to hold him , but it broke my heart to leave him behind , '' she said . `` I am more anxious than ever to bring him home . His year-long imprisonment has taken a heavy toll not only on Kenneth but on the whole family ; every day the pain and anxiety continue to carve a deep scar on all of our hearts . '' Earlier this year , Bae , a Korean-American , was sentenced to 15 years in a North Korean labor camp for what the government called `` hostile acts . '' His family had not been able to see him for almost a year since his November 3 arrest in North Korea . Myunghee Bae , of Lynwood , Washington , said that she pleaded with the North Korean authorities to let her visit her son , and expressed gratitude for granting permission . She arrived late last week , with the goal of encouraging her son who has become ill , according to a website dedicated to Kenneth Bae 's freedom . In a prison interview released in July , Kenneth Bae had spoken of health problems including diabetes , high blood pressure , fatty liver and a back problem . He looked noticeably thinner and wore a blue prison garment streaked with sweat and dirt . His family say he has lost more than 50 pounds . `` My heart was broken into pieces when his prison interview was released on July 3 , '' said his mother , in an earlier statement . `` His appearance was very shocking , he looked so different , and he lost so much weight . I could not believe that prisoner was my son . '' Bae was moved to a hospital for serious health problems , his sister , Terri Chung had told CNN in August . In previous interviews , Chung has said that her brother suffers from health problems including severe back and leg pain , kidney stones , dizziness , blurred vision and loss of vision . He was already dealing with diabetes . His family and friends have asked North Korea for mercy and the United States for help in securing his release . U.S. officials have repeatedly called on North Korea to release Bae . In August , the two countries appeared close , but North Korea rescinded an invitation to a U.S. envoy . Ambassador Robert King , President Barack Obama 's special envoy for North Korean human rights issues , had been expected to fly to Pyongyang to try to win his freedom . In previous instances , North Korea has released Americans in its custody after a visit by some U.S. dignitary -- in recent cases , former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton . Bae was arrested last year after arriving as a tourist in Rason City , a port in the northeastern corner of North Korea . His sister says that Bae is the owner of a tour company and was in North Korea for work . The North Korean government accuses Bae of setting up bases in China for the purpose of `` toppling '' the North Korean government , encouraging North Korean citizens to bring down the government and conducting a `` malignant smear campaign . '' The country 's state media also says that Bae had planned what it called a `` Jericho operation '' to bring down North Korea through religious activities . They have suggested that Bae could have been sentenced to death , but avoided it through `` candid confession of his crimes . '' `` I plead with our government to do everything in their power to secure my son 's release soon , '' Myunghee Bae said Tuesday .
Myunghee Bae said she was able to visit her son three times . Bae has been sentenced to 15 years in North Korean labor camp . His mother says she was alarmed by her son 's appearance in a July prison interview .