A detained American student tearfully apologised for attempting to steal a political banner in North Korea from his hotel after being paraded in front of the media in Pyongyang.
Otto Warmbier, 21, an undergraduate at the University of Virginia, was arrested in January for committing what North Korea called "an anti-state crime" with "the tacit connivance of the US government and under its manipulation".
Warmbier said on Monday that he wanted the banner with a political slogan on it as a trophy for a church back home. He said that he was offered a second-hand car worth $10,000 and was told if he was arrested and did not return, $200,000 would be paid to his mother.
Warmbier said that he accepted the offer because his family was "suffering from very severe financial difficulties".
"I started to consider this as my only golden opportunity to earn money," he said, adding that if he ever mentioned the involvement of the church, "no payments would come."
He said he was also encouraged by the "Z Society" at the University of Virginia, which he said he was trying to join. The magazine of the university's alumni association describes the Z Society as a "semi-secret ring society" founded in 1892 which conducts philanthropy, puts on honorary dinners, and grants academic awards.
Charges and punishment
No details of what kind of charges or punishment Warmbier faces were immediately released.
In previous cases, people who have been arrested in North Korea and given a public confession often recant those admissions after their release.
North Korea regularly accuses Washington and Seoul of sending spies to overthrow its government to enable the US-backed South Korean government to control the Korean peninsula.
Warmbier was arrested while visiting the country with Young Pioneer Tours, an agency specialising in travel to the North, which is strongly discouraged by the US State Department.
He had been staying at the Yanggakdo International Hotel, which is located on an island on a river that runs through Pyongyang.
Response:
This article explains a very strange event that occurred in North Korea. Firstly, tensions with North Korea and its 'oppressors' are quite delicate. It was only recently when North Korea experimented with another nuclear weapon. So this story may come to a shock of the intended audience of anyone who has been monitoring the situation with North Korea, specifically Americans. This article seems to contain little bias towards the student. This is shown because it first gives the perspective of the student. It elaborated on how his financial situation was faltering and that is why he chose to steal the poster. Also, in the beginning of the article it says that the student tearfully confesses. This makes the audience have sympathy towards him. However, it also mentioned the possible consequences for his action (how NK is always suspicious of the US) but not in a great amount of detail. Lastly, the article did not really mention what may happen to this student and how this confession will affect not only his life but the diplomatic relations with NK and the US. 
Citation:"North Korea : US Student Apologises for Poster Theft." - Al Jazeera English. 2016 Al Jazeera Media Network, 29 Feb. 2016. Web. 01 Mar. 2016.