American Kenneth Bae , who is being held in North Korea , has been moved from a hospital to a labor camp , the State Department said on Friday . Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement that the United States was `` deeply concerned '' by the development . `` We also remain gravely concerned about Mr. Bae 's health '' and again urge Pyongyang to grant him `` special amnesty and immediate release on humanitarian grounds , '' she said . Bae , of Lynwood , Washington , was arrested in November 2012 in Rason , along North Korea 's northeastern coast . A devout Christian and father of three , Bae operated a China-based company specializing in tours of North Korea , according to his family and freekennow.com , a website that friends set up to promote his release . The North Korean government accused Bae of planning to bring down the government through religious activities . Last month , he told reporters that he had committed a `` serious crime '' in the secretive nation and that he had not experienced abusive treatment by the regime . Any statement by Bae in captivity would be sanctioned by the North Korean government . Choson Sinbo -- a pro-North Korean publication with offices in Tokyo and Pyongyang that has claimed to have interviewed Bae in the past -- indicated in a report on its website Saturday that it had talked to him again . According to the site , Bae said he 'd been at a labor camp for about three weeks , during which time he works and also has some time to watch television and read books . Choson Sinbo claims that Bae has been told to expect a visit from Robert King , the U.S. special envoy for North Korean human rights issues , as early as this coming Monday . Psaki said late last month that the United States is `` prepared to send Ambassador King '' to North Korea to discuss Bae . `` There is n't a plan right now for Ambassador King to travel there , '' she said on January 29 .
Pro-North Korean publication : Bae expects a visit from U.S. diplomat soon . American says he 's been in labor camp for 3 weeks , reports Choson Sinbo . A State Department official says U.S. is `` deeply concerned '' by Bae 's move from a hospital . Arrested in 2012 , Bae is accused of plotting to topple North Korea government .