North Korea sentences US man to six years hard labour
(about 2 hours later)
The trial of an American man arrested in April has been held in North Korea, the Associated Press reports.
A North Korean court has sentenced an American man to six years of hard labour for "hostile acts", the state-run KCNA news agency has said.
Matthew Miller, 24, was detained for violating his tourist status when he entered the country, although specific details have not been released.
Matthew Millar was arrested in April, shortly after arriving in the country as a tourist.
He tore up his visa on arrival, demanding political asylum, North Korea media said.
The authorities have not specified the exact charges, but said he tore up his visa and demanded political asylum.
There are two other Americans being held in North Korea. The US says they are being used as "pawns".
The US accuses North Korea of using Mr Miller and two other detained Americans as pawns in a diplomatic game.
Jeffrey Fowle came to North Korea as a tourist but was arrested in May for allegedly leaving a Bible in a public place.
Jeffrey Fowle came to North Korea as a tourist but was arrested in May for allegedly leaving a Bible in a public place.
Korean-American missionary Kenneth Bae, who was arrested in November 2012, is serving 15 years in a labour camp after being convicted of trying to overthrow North Korea's government.
Korean-American missionary Kenneth Bae, who was arrested in November 2012, is serving 15 years in a labour camp after being convicted of trying to overthrow North Korea's government.
North Korea considers the distribution or spreading of Christian information as incendiary.
In a recent interview with Associated Press in Pyongyang, the three American detainees appealed to the US government to send a high-ranking representative to appeal for their freedom.
The White House has described securing the release of three American citizens as a "top priority".
In the past the US has been able to negotiate the release of American detainees in North Korea.
Notably two journalists who were held whilst filming a documentary in North Korea were granted a "special pardon" after former President Clinton travelled to the country.
The US has offered several times to send Robert King, its special envoy for North Korean human rights issues, to Pyongyang to discuss the detainees, but these visits have been cancelled by North Korea.
State department official Daniel Russel told Reuters last week that the US found North Korean treatment of its citizens "objectionable and distressing".
"This is the way that they play," he said. "They use human beings, and in this case Americans citizens, as pawns."
