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| North Korea Sentences American to 6 Years of Hard Labor | North Korea Sentences American to 6 Years of Hard Labor |
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| SEOUL, South Korea — The Supreme Court in North Korea on Sunday sentenced one of the three Americans known to be held in the country to six years of hard labor for committing “hostile acts” against the North. | SEOUL, South Korea — The Supreme Court in North Korea on Sunday sentenced one of the three Americans known to be held in the country to six years of hard labor for committing “hostile acts” against the North. |
| North Korea said the American, Matthew Todd Miller, of Bakersfield, Calif., committed the crime while entering the country on a tourist visa in April, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. | North Korea said the American, Matthew Todd Miller, of Bakersfield, Calif., committed the crime while entering the country on a tourist visa in April, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. |
| The agency also carried photographs that showed Mr. Miller, who is believed to be 24 or 25, in the defendant’s seat in the courtroom with his eyes downcast, and flanked by uniformed security officials. The news agency gave no further details of the trial. | The agency also carried photographs that showed Mr. Miller, who is believed to be 24 or 25, in the defendant’s seat in the courtroom with his eyes downcast, and flanked by uniformed security officials. The news agency gave no further details of the trial. |
| North Korea had earlier accused Mr. Miller of unruly behavior, saying that he tore up his visa at the Pyongyang airport and demanded asylum. In earlier interviews with The Associated Press and CNN, which were conducted while North Korean officials were present, Mr. Miller had said he apologized for his crime but did not discuss whether he asked for asylum. | North Korea had earlier accused Mr. Miller of unruly behavior, saying that he tore up his visa at the Pyongyang airport and demanded asylum. In earlier interviews with The Associated Press and CNN, which were conducted while North Korean officials were present, Mr. Miller had said he apologized for his crime but did not discuss whether he asked for asylum. |
| One of the two other Americans known to be held in North Korea, Kenneth Bae, a missionary, has been sentenced to 15 years of hard labor on charges of trying to build an underground proselytizing network in a plot to overthrow the North Korean government. | |
| The other, Jeffrey Fowle, 56, is expected to go on trial soon, also on charges of committing hostile acts. Mr. Fowle, an Ohio municipal worker, entered North Korea in April on a tourist visa and was arrested because, North Korea said, he tried to leave the country after having left behind a Bible. North Korea treats proselytizing by outsiders as an attempt to undermine its government. | The other, Jeffrey Fowle, 56, is expected to go on trial soon, also on charges of committing hostile acts. Mr. Fowle, an Ohio municipal worker, entered North Korea in April on a tourist visa and was arrested because, North Korea said, he tried to leave the country after having left behind a Bible. North Korea treats proselytizing by outsiders as an attempt to undermine its government. |
| In their separate interviews with CNN and The Associated Press this month, the three Americans beseeched Washington to send a high-ranking envoy to negotiate their freedom. | |
| Washington has no diplomatic ties with Pyongyang and relies on the Swedish Embassy to represent the interests of Americans held in the reclusive country. Washington has repeatedly offered to send its envoy for North Korean human rights issues, Robert R. King, to Pyongyang to bring the three home, but North Korea did not agree to see him, apparently seeking bigger concessions from Washington, like a visit by a more prominent American. | |
| In the past, North Korea had freed American detainees when high-profile Americans, including former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, visited Pyongyang to secure their release. While Washington tries to deepen North Korea’s isolation by refusing to engage in talks with it and imposing sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic missile activities, North Korea appears intent on using the fate of Americans held there as leverage to force Washington to engage in negotiations. | In the past, North Korea had freed American detainees when high-profile Americans, including former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, visited Pyongyang to secure their release. While Washington tries to deepen North Korea’s isolation by refusing to engage in talks with it and imposing sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic missile activities, North Korea appears intent on using the fate of Americans held there as leverage to force Washington to engage in negotiations. |
| Last week, the North said its Supreme Court would try Mr. Miller on Sunday, indicating that his trial would be a one-day event with no appeals allowed. | Last week, the North said its Supreme Court would try Mr. Miller on Sunday, indicating that his trial would be a one-day event with no appeals allowed. |