North Korea sentenced a US citizen of Korean heritage to 10 years in prison with hard labor after convicting him of espionage and subversion, the second American it has put behind bars this year.
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North Korea released a video of Kim in March, confessing to his alleged crimes and calling them “unpardonable”.
North Korea, however, has not stopped publicizing the power of its weapons.
North Korea’s claims that USA soldiers have been provoking its troops with “disgusting acts” are unsubstantiated, according to the United Nations command in the demilitarised zone.
Kim Dong Chul, aged 62, who was born in South Korea and is a naturalised USA citizen was accused of stealing information, including military secrets, and passing it on to South Korea.
The North Korean prosecution had originally requested a 15-year sentence, but Kim’s lawyer reportedly requested a lighter verdict on the grounds Kim “felt remorse” for his “foolish act”.
The United Nations Security Council gathered Friday in NY city, to discuss the three failed ballistic missile launches. The test and its results were not made public in North Korea media.
Washington and Seoul began talks on possible deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence system after Pyongyang tested its fourth nuclear bomb on Jan 6 and conducted missile tests.
About 28,000 American troops are deployed in South Korea to deter potential aggression from North Korea.
Kim, who was born in Seoul, is a naturalized USA citizen.
Toner said they had not yet confirmed the sentence.
The nuclear test was followed with a string of missile tests, though not all successful. Outsiders say North Korea seeks to use its USA detainees to wring concessions from Washington. After North Korea’s first nuclear bomb test in 2006, the United States accused North Korean troops of spitting across the border’s demarcation line, making throat-slashing hand gestures and flashing their middle fingers.
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The North’s chief diplomatic ally, China, which has become increasingly frustrated with Pyongyang’s refusal to restrain its nuclear ambitions, will be among the closest observers.
