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(Image source: Facebook)
BY NICHOLE CARTMELL
A North Korean court has sentenced an American citizen to 15 years of hard labor for reportedly
trying to overthrow the government. Kenneth Bae, as he is known in the United
States, was arrested last November while he was visiting the country. (Via KCNA)
Bae was a tour operator based largely out of China and has made several trips to North
Korea before. This particular trip was to Rason where he was detained by authorities
and accused of hostile acts against the government. (Via WFTS)
This sentencing comes as tensions are high between U.S. and North Korea, after Pyongyang's
third nuclear test and Kim Jong Un's aggressive, ramped-up rhetoric. (Via CNN)
North Korea has arrested several Americans in the past, take for example journalists
Laura Ling and Euna Lee. They were eventually released, though, after intervention from
former President Bill Clinton. (Via Fox News) But this is why Bae's sentence is seen by
many as a possible attempt to draw the U.S. into negotiations.
A BBC correspondent explains, "At the moment, North Korea is being offered talks on American
terms - which include a commitment to dismantle its nuclear weapons programme. This is one
way the regime can get a high-profile visitor to Pyongyang without any conditions at all."
The exact nature of Bae's crimes are still unknown. There is no official word about what
actions the U.S. will take in response.