North Korea sentences US tourist to 15 years in prison

Re:North Korea sentences US tourist to 15 years in prison by crispyambulance on Wednesday March 16, 2016 @08:51AM (#11296851)

This has nothing to do with "the crime" of stealing a banner. I suspect the story was made-up not by the student but by some official in government. To them, it sounds more plausible that someone would do this for a 10000 payout than simply for the satisfaction of having kick-ass dorm-room swag from North Korea.

Whatever the story is, it doesn't matter. The NK government is perhaps batshit crazy, but they're not stupid. The detainee is going to be a bargaining chip.

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Re:North Korea sentences US tourist to 15 years in prison by pdabbadabba on Wednesday March 16, 2016 @09:42AM (#11297171)

Exactly this. And it helps NK's preferred narrative if he was somehow manipulated by forces larger than himself--both because it makes Americans look desperate for any material advantage they can get, and because it makes the crime more easily forgiven when/if he is ultimately released.

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