LONDON – Kenneth Bae, a U.S. citizen imprisoned in North Korea, has appealed to U.S. authorities to help secure his release from prison, an interview published on Wednesday by pro-North Korean newspaper Choson Sinbo and carried by CNN said.

Kenneth Bae now sports a shaved head, stained overalls marked prisoner number ‘103’ and appears to have lost weight since being taken captive by the government in Pyongyang.

“I know that my family is working hard to improve the situation with the DPRK and U.S. governments. I hope they keep praying and request for a pardon from the DPRK and U.S. government,”