North Korea Sentences American Citizen Matthew Miller to 6 Years Hard Labor

On Sunday, North Korea sentenced American citizen Matthew Todd Miller to 6 years of hard labor. 24-year-old Miller was detained for several months in North Korea and his sentence was given in the Supreme Court, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The court charged Miller with an espionage related crime, according to the Associated Press, and sentenced him to “labor re-education,” according to KCNA.

The statement by the KCNA said, “He committed acts hostile to the DPRK while entering the territory of the DPRK under the guise of a tourist last April.” Although the details of his crime are unknown, Miller reportedly tore up his tourist visa and demanded asylum in North Korea back in April.

The Associated Press, who attended the trial, reported that the court accused Miller of seeking asylum upon entry into North Korea in order to examine human rights conditions inside a North Korean prison. Matthew Miller first entered North Korea through a New Jersey based tour group called Uri Tours.

Miller is originally from Bakersfield, California and is one of three Americans who are detained in North Korea. Kenneth Bae, a U.S. missionary, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor and accused of a Christian plot to overthrow Kim Jong Un. Jeffrey Fowle, an American tourist accused of leaving a Bible in his hotel room, is awaiting trial.

Earlier this month, the three Americans each had separate interviews with CNN that lasted 5 minutes each.

Bae told CNN that he was working 8 hours a day six days out of the week at a labor camp. “Right now what I can say to my friends and family is, continue to pray for me,” Bae told CNN.

In his interview with CNN Miller said, “My situation is very urgent, that very soon I am going to trial, and I would directly be sent to prison.”

Fowle said he had no complaints with his treatment by the North Korean government. “It's been very good so far, and I hope and pray that it continues, while I'm here two more days or two more decades,” Fowle said.

In response to Miller’s sentence, U.S. State Department spokesperson Darby Holladay said the United States requests that North Korea “grant them amnesty and immediate release.”