US 21-year-old Sentenced To 15 Years Of Hard Labour In N. Korea For Trying To 'Steal' Banner

Otto Warmbier, a 15-year-old American student, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labour in North Korea for his "crime" of trying to steal a propaganda sign. He admitted in court that he tried to stash it from a hotel this January so that he could take it as a "trophy" from his trip.

The University of Virginia student had dropped into the country on a tourist visa, but was arrested on Jan. 2 at Pyongyang's international airport after a five-day trip, said his travel agency, to the Washington Post.

He was reportedly arrested for being part of "anti-state activity." He was reported by KCNA of entering in "the guise of tourist for the purpose of bringing down the foundation of its single-minded unity at the tacit connivance of the US government and under its manipulation."

Due to the current tensions between the US and North Korea, he was charged with subversion and sentenced to 15 years of hard labour.

He had tried to steal a banner from the wall from a staff-only floor of the Yanggakdo hotel. Strangely, as the banner was too big, he left it behind.

In a February press conference, he tearfully confessed to the "very severe and pre-planned" crime, asking for forgiveness from the nation.

"The aim of my task was to harm the motivation and work ethic of the Korean people. This was a very foolish aim," he read from a note.

While he broke into tears, he called it the "worst mistake" of his life. He added he was "used and manipulated" by the United States administration and that he had been asked by a female Methodist church member in Ohio, his home state, to steal a propaganda sign and bring it back as a "trophy."

He was supposed to have bargained for a used car worth US$10,000 (AU$13,200) from the church member in exchange for the sign while his mother would have got US$200,000 (AU$263,400) after his arrest.

As his family was experiencing "very severe" financial crises, he said that by stealing the sign he got a "golden opportunity" to do service to his family.

After that, he had to perform a very deep bow so that he could show his regret to the country.