North Korea said Wednesday that American citizen Kenneth Bae, sentenced to 15 years of hard labor, has started his term at a “special prison.”

North Korea said Wednesday that American citizen Kenneth Bae, sentenced to 15 years of hard labor, has started his term at a “special prison.”

Pyongyang said earlier this week that Bae informed his family on Friday that he could not appeal his April 30 sentence.

He also asked his family to urge Washington to push for his amnesty.

Washington has called for Bae's release. Bae has been accused of trying to establish an anti-Pyongyang base in the North.

Several other detained Americans have been released in recent years after prominent Americans traveled to Pyongyang.