American Christian missionary Kenneth Bae must finish his sentence of 15 years hard labor in North Korea, according to an interview with a Pyongyang diplomat.
Bae has been detained for more than a year. North Korean officials jailed Bae for "anti-government acts" in November 2012, when he was leading a tour group there.
Hyun Hak Bong, North Korea's ambassador to the United Kingdom, suggested to Sky News Thursday that Bae would not be pardoned.
"Sometimes there's occasions for a pardon, but I don't know and I cannot predict that Kenneth Bae will be pardoned or not. He should finish his term - that is all - according to crimes against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea," he said.
"I cannot interfere into the legal system," Hyun added. "When the judgment is done, then it is done."
Bae was moved to a hospital last summer after his health deteriorated. He has appealed to the U.S. government to do more for his release.
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