A foreigner has once again been convicted in North Korea. The North Korean Supreme Court has sentenced a Korean-American to 10 years of hard labor for subversion.
Kim Dong Chul was arrested in North Korea and admitted on committing unpardonable espionage which includes stealing of military secrets. As reported by BBC, Kim has a USB stick which contains military and nuclear secrets at the time of his arrest. Kim confessed that he had been introduced to South Korean spies by the US intelligence officers.
According to CNN, Kim had spied in behalf of the South Korean conservative elements regarding the North's nuclear and military program. Kim said that he has been taking military secrets as well as scandalous scenes. Kim further confessed that he has been asked to destroy North Korea's system and spread propaganda against it.
It was the Supreme Court of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea who handed down the sentence. The country has been criticized for poor human rights record for many years. The country has also been using American detainees in order to extract high-profile visits from the United States. North Korea has no diplomatic relations with the US, as per LF Press.
A total of six foreigners, which includes Kim, is known to be detained in North Korea. The country has given lengthy sentences to foreigners before giving them their freedom.
Kim had confessed of espionage under the direction of the US and South Korean government. Kim who is a naturalized American apologized for his crimes. Foreigners, however, who experienced being detained in the country said that the confessions are scripted.
North Korea has also sentenced Otto Warmbier, an American, who stole propaganda banner in the country. Another detainee, a Korean-Canadian Christian pastor, is serving a lifetime sentence for subversion.
Since its first nuclear test last January, North Korea has intensified its pursuit of nuclear and ballistic missiles. The country also tightened its security for the upcoming party congress on May 6.
