Detained American citizen Kenneth Bae could be freed from prison after U.S. diplomat Robert King visits North Korea, an interview published in the pro-North Korea Japanese media outlet Choson Sinbo suggested on Friday.

Bae told Choson Sinbo on Friday that he talked about his potential pardon with an official from the Swedish embassy and was told that Ambassador Robert King would visit him soon, either on Monday or sometime within the month.

Bae said he learned that Washington originally requested to send civil rights activist Pastor Jesse Jackson to visit and assist him, but that Pyongyang only gave a green