North Korea's state media disclosed the contents of a court ruling for recently sentenced United States citizen Matthew Todd Miller in a rebuttal against criticism from the U.S. for holding its citizens in exchange for concessions.

The North's central news agency said on Saturday that Miller had torn up his tourist visa upon entry of the country to intentionally become imprisoned and later, investigate North Korean human rights conditions. The report said Miller had asked for political asylum and added his actions amounted to criminal espionage.

Miller is said to have also prepared a notebook in which he had written down claims he was being hunted by U.S. authorities for stealing intelligence. The notebook was used during his pleas for asylum, the report said.

KCNA stated Miller's actions had coincided with the timing of comments from U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry regarding North Korea's missile launches and human rights problems.

The North Korean report comes after it said that Miller had been sentenced to six years of hard labor on September 14 without stating what he had been charged with.

Miller is one of three U.S. citizens Pyongyang currently has in custody. Kenneth Bae, who was arrested in 2012 has been sentenced to 15 years of hard labor while Jeffrey Edward Fowle is awaiting trial after being arrested in May for attempting to exit the country after leaving a Bible in a North Korean hotel.