Yanji, North Korea News

North Korea said Sunday it would not use an imprisoned Lynnwood man as a political bargaining chip, rejecting the possibility of allowing any prominent Americans to visit the North to request the prisoner's release, as it had in similar cases in the past.

By sentencing a US citizen to 15 years of hard labour this week for committing hostile acts against North Korea's government, the reclusive state is forcing the US to choose between two equally distasteful options, analysts say.

Seoul: North Korea said on Thursday that its Supreme Court had sentenced a US citizen to 15 years of hard labour for committing hostile acts against its government.

Rajin is across the border from the Chinese city of Yanji, where many Christian groups shelter North Korean refugees.

The interior of a courtroom in Pyongyang's supreme court, where Kenneth Bae will face charges of trying to overthrow the government.