The AP reports North Korea's Supreme Court sentenced 24-year-old American Matthew Miller to six years of hard labor on Sunday, charging him with "entering the country illegally to commit espionage."

Miller, of Bakersfield, California, has been detained in the country since April 10 when he tore up his tourist visa upon arrival at Pyongyang's airport and, reportedly, asked for asylum. He did not know what charge would be brought against him until he went to trial.

The trial reportedly lasted about 90 minutes and Miller waived the right to a lawyer. From the AP:

Earlier, it had been believed that Miller had sought asylum when he entered North Korea. During the trial, however, the prosecution argued that was a ruse and that Miller also falsely claimed to have secret information about the U.S. military in South Korea on his iPad and iPod.

Miller was charged under Article 64 of the North Korean criminal code, which is for espionage and can carry a sentence of five to 10 years, though harsher punishments can be given for more serious cases.

The U.S. State Department urged North Korea to release Miller—as well as two other Americans being held, Kenneth Bae and Jeffrey Edward Fowle—after Sunday's sentencing.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki released a statement saying, "Now that Mr. Miller has gone through a legal process, we urge the DPRK to grant him amnesty and immediate release."

[image via AP]