US urges North Korea to free student

The US has called on North Korea to immediately release
an American student sentenced to 15 years' hard labour
for crimes against the state.
Otto Warmbier, 21, was arrested for trying to steal a
propaganda sign from a hotel while on a visit in January.
A White House spokesman accused North Koreans of
using US citizens as "pawns to pursue a political agenda".
North Korean state media said Warmbier was convicted
under an article of the criminal code relating to
subversion.
The verdict was handed down by the Supreme Court.
"We strongly encourage the North Korean government to
pardon him and grant him special amnesty and immediate
release," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.
North Korea sometimes uses the detention of foreigners as
a means of exerting pressure on its adversaries.
The BBC's Stephen Evans in South Korea says the 15-year
sentence is high compared to those given to foreigners in
the past.
This could be due to the elevated tensions at the moment
between North Korea and the US, he says.
'Worst mistake of my life'
Warmbier, a student at the University of Virginia, was
arrested on 2 January at the airport as he tried to leave
North Korea. He was accused of committing "hostile acts".
He later appeared on state TV apparently confessing and
saying a church group had asked him to bring back a
"trophy" from his trip.
At the time, state news agency KCNA said had gone to
North Korea "to destroy the country's unity" and that he
had been "manipulated" by the US government.
At the end of February, at a tearful press conference in
Pyongyang, Warmbier said he had "committed the crime of
taking down a political slogan from the staff holding area of
the Yanggakdo International Hotel".
"The aim of my task was to harm the motivation and work
ethic of the Korean people. This was a very foolish aim," he
was quoted as saying.
He said it was the "worst mistake" of his life.
North Korea detainees often recant their confessions once
out of the country.
US tourism to North Korea is legal but the US State
Department strongly advises against it.
Foreigners detained in North Korea
Other recent cases include:
Hyeon Soo Lim, a Canadian Christian pastor of South
Korean origin, was sentenced to a life term of hard
labour in December, for "crimes against the state".
Kim Dong Chul, a businessman who said he made
frequent trips to the North's Rason Special Economic
Zone, was arrested in October 2015 for "espionage".
Pyongyang produced a passport that appeared to
show he was a naturalised American.
Sandra Suh, an American aid worker, was arrested
and then expelled in April 2015, accused of gathering
and producing anti-North propaganda.
Matthew Todd Miller was sentenced to six years'
hard labour in September 2014 for what North Korean
state media described as "hostile acts", but was
released in November the same year.
Kenneth Bae was arrested in November 2012 and
accused of using his tourism business to form groups
to overthrow the government. Sentenced to 15 years'
hard labour in May 2013 but was released along with
Mr Miller .
Jeffrey Fowle, held for five months and charged with
"anti-state" crimes, was released in October 2014.
Korean War veteran Merrill Newman, held in October
2013 on charges of "hostile acts", was released in
December the same year.
The sentencing comes a day after veteran US diplomat Bill
Richardson met North Korean officials at the UN in New
York to try to push for Warmbier's release.
Mr Richardson has previously been involved in
negotiations to secure the release of Americans from
North Korea detention.
North Korea has ramped up its hostile rhetoric in recent
weeks, after the UN imposed some of its toughest ever
sanctions.