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US man Kim Dong-chul jailed for spying in North Korea | |
(35 minutes later) | |
North Korea has sentenced a US man to 10 years of hard labour for spying. | |
Kim Dong-chul, a 62-year-old naturalised US citizen born in South Korea, was arrested last October. | |
Kim had made an apparent confession in Pyongyang last month in front of reporters, saying he was paid by South Korean intelligence officers. | |
The US has previously accused North Korea of using its citizens as pawns in a diplomatic game. Pyongyang denies the accusations. | The US has previously accused North Korea of using its citizens as pawns in a diplomatic game. Pyongyang denies the accusations. |
In March, US student Otto Frederick Warmbier was jailed for 15 years for stealing a propaganda sign and "crimes against the state". | |
North Korea has previously said Kim had a USB stick containing military and nuclear secrets on him when he was arrested in the special economic zone of Rason. | |
Kim, who used to live in Virginia, had said he was introduced to South Korean spies by US intelligence officers. | |
Forced public confessions by foreign prisoners are common in North Korea. | |
Kim's imprisonment comes amid a period of high tensions. North Korea has recently conducted a series of missile tests following its fourth nuclear test in January, both of which break UN sanctions. | |
Pyongyang attempted to launch two mid-range ballistic missiles on Thursday which crashed shortly after their launches, prompting an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. | Pyongyang attempted to launch two mid-range ballistic missiles on Thursday which crashed shortly after their launches, prompting an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. |
It is believed it will attempt a fifth nuclear test soon. | |
The recent burst in activity is thought to be a ramp-up to a rare party congress due to be held on 6 May, where leader Kim Jong-un is expected to consolidate power. | |
Foreigners detained in North Korea | |
Other recent cases include: |