A tourist who tore up his visa to ‘experience human rights abuses in North Korean prison’ has been sentenced to six years hard labour.
American Matthew Miller, 24, arrived in North Korea in April and tore up his tourist visa, claiming asylum.
He demanded to be arrested so that he could experience prison life in the communist nation.
Having waived the right to a lawyer, he was sentenced to six years hard labour for entering the country illegally to commit espionage.
During the trial the prosecution argued that was a ruse and that Miller also falsely claimed to have secret information about the U.S. military in South Korea on his iPad and iPod.
Miller was charged under Article 64 of the North Korean criminal code, which is for espionage and can carry a sentence of five to 10 years, though harsher punishments can be given for more serious cases.
Uri Tours, the New Jersey-based travel agency specializing in North Korea tourism which booked Miller’s trip, told the Daily Mail that it was working to have Miller returned to his parents in the United States.
"Although we ask a series of tailored questions on our application form designed to get to know a traveler and his/her interests, it’s not always possible for us to foresee how a tourist may behave during a Democratic People’s Republic of Korea tour," the travel agency said in a statement on Friday.
The company now routinely requests a secondary contact and says it may contact references to confirm facts about a potential tourist.
It has also added advice warning tourists not to rip up any officially issued documents.
