By Alex Jensen
SEOUL
North Korea’s Supreme Court sentenced American citizen Matthew Miller to six years of hard labor Sunday, according to the country’s state-run news agency.
The KCNA explained that the 24-year-old’s punishment followed “acts hostile” to the country, without elaborating.
Previous reports claimed that Miller tore up his tourist visa upon entry to the North in April of this year, requesting asylum before being taken into custody.
Earlier this month, it was a different story as he called for U.S. government support via American news outlet CNN.
During a short interview that had been arranged by North Korea, the 24-year-old offered no clues as to why he had torn up his visa, but described his situation as “very urgent.”
Miller also admitted that he had “prepared” to violate North Korean law and “deliberately” committed his unspecified crime.
He is one of three American citizens being held in the North – 46-year-old Kenneth Bae was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor last year, while 56-year-old Jeffrey Fowle is awaiting trial.
Bae and Fowle were both arrested in connection with Christian activities, which can be heavily punished in North Korea – Fowle is accused of leaving a Bible in a nightclub.
Despite U.S. State Department cautions against traveling to North Korea, it has in the past dispatched former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter to help free detainees.
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