Fowle is from Miamisburg, Ohio, and worked in the Moraine, Ohio[4] municipal street department.[3] His wife, Tatyana, was born in Russia, and they have three children.[3]
Arrest
In May 2014, while on a guided tour of North Korea, Fowle deliberately left a Korean-English bible in the restroom of the Chongjin Sailor's Club.[5]Proselytism is a crime in North Korea.[1] The bible, containing Fowle's family photo together with his and his wife's names, address and telephone number, was discovered by a staff member and handed in to local authorities. Fowle was arrested at Pyongyang International Airport as his tour group was preparing to leave the country.[2] At the time, Fowle was one of three U.S. citizens detained in North Korea, the others being Kenneth Bae and Matthew Todd Miller. They were individually granted interviews with two U.S. news outlets, CNN and Associated Press, pleading for assistance from the U.S. government.[6]
Release
On October 21, 2014, Fowle was released and flown out of North Korea on a U.S. government jet.[1]Sweden facilitated Fowle's release in its capacity as the United States' protecting power in North Korea, as the United States and North Korea did not have formal diplomatic relations.[1]
