Inside North Korea's Control Over CNN Interviews
BLITZER: We continue to follow the breaking news: the apparent beheading of an American Steven Sotloff by ISIS, much more on that coming up. But, first, this urgent story we are following at the same time. We're finally getting a behind-the-scenes look at the rare interviews with three Americans detained in North Korea and restrictions that our CNN crews faced as Will Ripley travelled to North Korea. He's now back in Beijing. He's joining us now to explain. Take us a little bit, Will, behind the scenes. You were in Pyongyang, came as a huge surprise, this opportunity to interview these three Americans. What was it like?</s>WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, as you know, from your time in North Korea, things are very unpredictable. They can change in an instant. And that's what happened with us. We were on a government controlled tour, much like the ones that you took when you traveled there. And we were in the middle of lunch when our handlers pulled us aside and said we needed to leave right now to head towards the capital. So, as we were in the van, I pulled out my cell phone camera and started rolling, and this is what happened.</s>RIPLEY (voice-over): An abrupt detour during a trip to cover pro- wrestlers on a sports diplomacy mission to North Korea, one minute, we're on a sight-seeing tour -- the next, we're in a van, racing through the North Korean countryside. Government minders are on the phone getting instructions. There's been a change of plans. We're told to expect an interview with a government official. When we pull up to this building, we learn who's really inside. (on camera): Mr. Bae, Will Ripley with</s>CNN. (voice-over): Kenneth Bae is serving 15 years of hard labor. Pyongyang is giving us strictly controlled access to him and two other North Koreans. We get the impression this regime is looking for a line of communication with the</s>U.S. KENNETH BAE, AMERICAN HELD IN NORTH KOREA: I'm the only prisoner in the camp.</s>RIPLEY: Bae is housed separately from what Amnesty International estimates are 200,000 North Korean prisoners. The human rights group says they endure horrific conditions at six prison camps. Bae says his health is failing but his treatment is humane.</s>BAE: Condition in the camp is I'm working eight hours a day, six days a week.</s>RIPLEY: As Bae serves his sentence, Jeffrey Fowle is waiting to learn his.</s>JEFFREY FOWLE, AMERICAN HELD IN NORTH KOREA: I'm getting desperate, I'm getting desperate.</s>RIPLEY: Fowle has already confessed to leaving a bible in North Korea. His own handwritten note detailed the so-called crime.</s>FOWLE: It's a covert act and it violates the tourist purpose as well.</s>RIPLEY: That covert act of leaving a bible could cost Fowle years of freedom. Experts say religion threatens the North Korean regime. In a nation accused of widespread religious persecution, only the leaders are considered divine. Each man is held in a different room down the same hallway. They never have contact with each other. In this room, Matthew Miller, awaiting trial for tearing up his tourist visa and seeking asylum in North Korea. (on camera): Why did you come here seeking asylum?</s>MATTHEW MILLER, AMERICAN HELD IN NORTH KOREA: During my investigation, I have discussed my motive and for the interview, it's not necessary.</s>RIPLEY (voice-over): Now, all he wants is help from the U.S. government.</s>MILLER: This interview is my final chance.</s>RIPLEY: A chance to return to his old life, away from the absolute isolation of being held in North Korea. During our trip, government minders are always watching, not unexpected here. What caught us by surprise is how North Korea appears to be reaching out to the United States, using these three men to send a message.</s>RIPLEY: On a geopolitical scale, North Korea's not a powerful country, but, Wolf, as you know, when you're inside, the government's control is absolute. We were told we had just five minutes with each of these three men and if we went over that time or if we strayed beyond the agreed-upon topics, the consequences would be severe. They even mentioned our flight out of the country could have been in jeopardy if we broke any of the rules, Wolf.</s>BLITZER: So, obviously, you got nervous when you heard a threat -- even implied threat like that when they start talking about it. I remember when I was there a few years ago, it was a very, very tense time on the Korean peninsula. There was actually fighting going on between North and South Korea, but you had a difference experience. How worried did you get?</s>RIPLEY: Well, when our government handlers were shaking when they delivered the news that we had somewhere very important to go, that made me very nervous because they weren't giving us any details. That's part of the reason why I took out my cell phone camera because I wanted to document whatever was going to happen. We didn't know if there was really going to be an interview or if we had perhaps done something to offend the government. When you're inside that country, you just don't know. Everything is shrouded in secrecy.</s>BLITZER: It was clear to you, certainly watching your excellent interviews, Will, it was clear that all three of them, of these American prisoners, these captives there, have the same message for the U.S. government, send a high level envoy to Pyongyang, whether Bill Clinton or anyone along those lines, which is what the North Koreans want, they want attention.</s>RIPLEY: Yes. You know, I found it remarkable that these men -- you know, they were in separate rooms just feet away from each other but they're kept completely isolated. They've never seen each other, never spoken to each other, yet their talking points were almost identical, that they're being treated humanely, that they're in an urgent desperate situation and that they want a big name from the U.S. government to help secure their release. I don't know if they were coached ahead of time, we were not allowed to ask. But judging by their answers, it seems very likely they had a talking to just like we did before the interviews.</s>BLITZER: Excellent reporting from North Korea. Will Ripley, our man on the scene -- good work. Thanks very much. Up next: more on the apparent beheading execution of an American journalist by ISIS terrorists. More of the breaking news, straight ahead.