The family of American citizen Jeffrey Fowle, who is currently detained in North Korea for alleged anti-state crimes, asked Pyongyang for mercy at a press event on Tuesday.

The request, which was delivered by the Fowle family attorney in his home town of Dayton, Ohio, came ten days after the American pleaded from North Korea for his government and family to intervene.

“The family would like to express its heartfelt apology to the people and the government of the DPRK. jeff has apologized publicly for his actions and Jeffrey’s family petitions the government of the DPRK for mercy toward Jeffrey