North Korea Just Sentenced an American to Six Years Hard Labor

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) — North Korea's Supreme Court has sentenced Matthew Miller, a U.S. citizen, to six years with labor for entering the country illegally and trying to commit an act of espionage.

FILE - In this Sept. 1, 2014 file photo, Mathew Miller, an American detained in North Korea, speaks to the Associated Press, in Pyongyang, North Korea. North Korea’s state media has announced that Matthew Miller, in custody since April, will be put on trial on Sunday, Sept. 14. The punishment could range from forgiveness and deportation to a lengthy sentence in prison with hard labor. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, File)

The court said Sunday that the 24-year-old Miller, of Bakersfield, California, tore up his tourist visa at Pyongyang's airport when he entered the country on April 10 and intended to "experience prison life so that he could investigate the human rights situation."

After its brief session Sunday morning, the court denied Miller any appeal.

A trial is also expected soon for 56-year-old Jeffrey Fowle, who entered the North as a tourist but was arrested in May for leaving a Bible at a provincial club. A third American, Korean-American missionary Kenneth Bae, is serving out a 15-year sentence for alleged "hostile acts."

Featured image via Shutterstock

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