North Korean Supreme Court Sentences University Of Virginia Student Otto Warmbier To 15 Years Of Hard Labor For Tearing Down A Sign

by Jesse L. / Mar 16, 2016 01:36 PM EDT

Otto Frederick Warmbier, a 21-year-old economics major from the University Of Virginia, speaks at a news conference in Pyongyang, North Korea on Feb. 29

North Korea's Supreme Court sentenced 21-year-old University of Virginia student Otto Warmbier to 15 years of hard labor for allegedly ripping a propaganda poster off the wall of the staff room at the Yanggakdo International Hotel in Pyongyang, following a one-hour trial, the Chinese news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday.

Following a one-hour trial, Warmbier was charged with subversion under Article 60 of North Korea's criminal code, the Associated Press reported.

"The accused confessed to the serious offense he had committed against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, pursuant to the US government's hostile policy toward it, in a bid to impair the unity of its people, after entering as a tourist," stated a report from North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency.

Word of Warmbier's sentence came following rejected diplomatic efforts by Swedish diplomats in the North Korean capital city of Pyongyang and veteran negotiator Bill Richardson with North Korean emissaries at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, according to the BBC.

The US does not engage in direct diplomacy with North Korea.

At a press conference three weeks ago, Warmbier, with tears in his eyes, read from a prepared statement.

"The aim of my task was to harm the motivation and work ethic of the Korean people. This was a very foolish aim," he said.

Warmbier reportedly told reporters in Pyongyang before his court appearance Wednesday that he had been offered $10,000 to steal the poster and was told if he was captured a sum of $200,000 would be awarded to his family.

Back in January, when the Kim Jong Un's regime announced the University Of Virginia student's Jan.2 arrest at the Pyongyang Sunan International Airport, North Korea claimed Warmbier actions were at "the tacit connivance of the US government and under its manipulation."

While his family has not responded to media requests for comment, University of Virginia spokesman Anthony de Bruyn says the school is in contact with the economics major's relatives.

"The University is aware of the recent media reports regarding Otto Warmbier and remains in touch with his family," de Bruyn told the Washington Post.

"We will have no additional comment at this time."