N Korea moved American citizen sentenced to 15 years into a “special prison”

An American citizen sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for "carrying out serious crimes" against North Korea was moved to a "special prison," state media said.

Pae Jun Ho, refered to by U.S. authorities as Kenneth Bae, has been sentenced by North Korea's supreme court earlier this year in May. Pyongyang claims Bae confessed and didn't want an attorney present during his sentencing. Although human rights groups insist that Bae was denied access to a lawyer.

The sentencing came during the tense diplomatic period between the USA and North Korea. And it is believed that Pyongyang may be using Bae as bait to win diplomatic concessions in the standoff over its nuclear weapons program. Although North Korea denies such speculation.