Otto Warmbier has been accused by the state of trying to take the banner, which bore a political slogan – for a member of his church in Ohio in exchange for a “$10,000 used car”.
He also claimed in his statement – under the watchful eyes of officials at the People’s Palace of Culture in Pyongyang – that the churchgoer had offered to pay $200,000 to his mother if he was detained on his “mission”.
A senior pastor from the church later confirmed that Warmbier is not a member of the congregation of 500 worshippers.
In a further series of bizarre allegations North Korean officials said his act was influenced by a secretive university group called the Z Society.
They also accused the university undergrad of having links to the CIA.
Speaking on North Korea’s national broadcaster and propaganda network he admitted to the alleged crime – and apologised to “each and every one of the millions of the Korean people”
The sobbing 21-year-old said: “I beg that you see how I was used and manipulated,”
“I never, never should have allowed myself to be lured by the United States administration to commit a crime in this country.”
It is unclear whether he was forced to speak, or coerced by Korean officials within the oppressive regime.
He added: "My reward for my crime was so much smaller than the rewards that the Z Society and the Friendship United Methodist Church get from the United States Administration."
In previous cases, people who have been detained in North Korea and given a public confession often recant those admissions after their release.
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