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| North Korea sentences US citizen to 15 years' hard labour | North Korea sentences US citizen to 15 years' hard labour |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| North Korea says it has sentenced a US citizen to 15 years of hard labour. | North Korea says it has sentenced a US citizen to 15 years of hard labour. |
| The announcement, from state news agency KCNA, said Pae Jun-ho, known in the US as Kenneth Bae, was tried on 30 April. | The announcement, from state news agency KCNA, said Pae Jun-ho, known in the US as Kenneth Bae, was tried on 30 April. |
| He was held last year after entering North Korea as a tourist. Pyongyang said he was accused of anti-government crimes. | He was held last year after entering North Korea as a tourist. Pyongyang said he was accused of anti-government crimes. |
| The move comes amid high tensions between North Korea and the US, after Pyongyang's third nuclear test. | The move comes amid high tensions between North Korea and the US, after Pyongyang's third nuclear test. |
| North Korean media said last week that Mr Pae had admitted charges of crimes against North Korea, including attempting to overthrow the government. | North Korean media said last week that Mr Pae had admitted charges of crimes against North Korea, including attempting to overthrow the government. |
| "The Supreme Court sentenced him to 15 years of compulsory labour for this crime," KCNA said. | "The Supreme Court sentenced him to 15 years of compulsory labour for this crime," KCNA said. |
| Mr Pae, 44, was arrested in November as he entered the northeastern port city of Rason, a special economic zone near North Korea's border with China. | Mr Pae, 44, was arrested in November as he entered the northeastern port city of Rason, a special economic zone near North Korea's border with China. |
| He is believed to be a tour operator of Korean descent. The Associated Press news agency also reports that he is described by friends as a devout Christian. | |
| "We call on the DPRK [North Korea] to release Kenneth Bae immediately on humanitarian grounds," US State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said on Monday. | "We call on the DPRK [North Korea] to release Kenneth Bae immediately on humanitarian grounds," US State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said on Monday. |
| Nuclear tensions | Nuclear tensions |
| North Korea has arrested several US citizens in recent years, including journalists and Christians accused of proselytism. | North Korea has arrested several US citizens in recent years, including journalists and Christians accused of proselytism. |
| They were released after intervention from high-profile American figures, including former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, both of whom went to Pyongyang. | They were released after intervention from high-profile American figures, including former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, both of whom went to Pyongyang. |
| In 2009, Mr Clinton negotiated the release of two US journalists accused of entering North Korea illegally, Laura Ling and Euna Lee. | In 2009, Mr Clinton negotiated the release of two US journalists accused of entering North Korea illegally, Laura Ling and Euna Lee. |
| Held after North Korea's second nuclear test, both had been sentenced to 12 years of hard labour before they were released. | Held after North Korea's second nuclear test, both had been sentenced to 12 years of hard labour before they were released. |
| Observers suggest Pyongyang could be using the jailed American as leverage, amid a very tense situation on the Korean peninsula. | Observers suggest Pyongyang could be using the jailed American as leverage, amid a very tense situation on the Korean peninsula. |
| The UN expanded sanctions against the communist state in March, in the wake of its 12 February nuclear test and December long-range rocket launch. | The UN expanded sanctions against the communist state in March, in the wake of its 12 February nuclear test and December long-range rocket launch. |
| Pyongyang reacted angrily both to the measures and annual US-South Korea military exercises which saw high-profile displays of US military hardware. | Pyongyang reacted angrily both to the measures and annual US-South Korea military exercises which saw high-profile displays of US military hardware. |
| It threatened to attack US military bases around the region and cut key hotlines with South Korea. | It threatened to attack US military bases around the region and cut key hotlines with South Korea. |
| It has also withdrawn its workers from the North-South joint industrial zone at Kaesong, prompting South Korea to pull its staff out for the first time since the project was launched a decade ago. | It has also withdrawn its workers from the North-South joint industrial zone at Kaesong, prompting South Korea to pull its staff out for the first time since the project was launched a decade ago. |
| Only seven South Koreans remain at Kaesong, a complex just inside North Korea where more than 120 South Korean firms operate using North Korea workers. | |
| Seoul says they are negotiating final wage payments and should be returning South soon. | |
| The South Korean government has pledged 300bn won ($273m, £175m) in emergency loans for firms hit by the suspension at Kaesong. |