North Korean state news: American sentenced to 15 years hard labor

An American man detained in North Korea since last November has been sentenced to 15 years of hard labor. This was reported by North Korean state news Thursday, CNN reported.

Pae Jun Ho,refered to by U.S. authorities as Kenneth Bae, has been sentenced by North Korea's supreme court.
A Korean-American, Bae entered North Korea on a valid tourist visa.

The KCNA report indicated that the American was sentenced Wednesday for "carrying out serious crimes" against North Korea, without specifying what exactly he had allegedly had done. He was arrested November 3 in Rason City.

The sentence comes amid heightened tension between North Korea and the United States, together with its ally South Korea. Over recent weeks, the North has intensified threats against its neighbor and the United States.