An American sentenced in North Korea ripped up his visa so he could go to prison and expose human rights violations there , state media said Saturday . Matthew Todd Miller was convicted of committing `` acts hostile '' to North Korea and sentenced to six years of hard labor last week . Saturday 's report in the state-run Korean Central News Agency boldly heaped blame on Miller , claiming his acts were a preconceived plan to gain notoriety . The 24-year-old from Bakersfield , California , arrived in North Korea as a tourist in April . After his arrival , he tore his visa at Pyongyang 's airport and shouted his desire to seek asylum , according to KCNA . 'Rudely behaved ' State media described him as `` rudely behaved , '' saying he was sent to infiltrate prison as part of a United States campaign against North Korea . `` He perpetrated the above-said acts in the hope of becoming a world famous guy and the second Snowden through intentional hooliganism , '' state media said . Edward Snowden got asylum from Russia , where he fled last year after leaking classified U.S. government documents . Once sentenced , Miller hoped to meet Kenneth Bae , another American detained in North Korea . He planned to secure Bae 's release so both can serve as `` witnesses '' to the human rights violations in the nation , state media said . `` The crime committed by Miller Matthew Todd was prompted by his sinister political aim to deliberately slander the DPRK , '' it said . DPRK refers to North Korea 's official name , the Democratic People 's Republic of Korea . Its government is a communist dictatorship renowned for human rights abuses . Washington demands release . The U.S. State Department has demanded that North Korea release Miller and Bae , and American Jeffrey Fowle . Fowle , 56 , was arrested in June while traveling as a tourist . Bae , who was detained in 2012 , has been accused of planning to bring down the government through religious activities . He was moved from a hospital to a labor camp . Miller talks to CNN . Earlier this month , Miller told CNN 's Will Ripley that he `` prepared to violate the law of DPRK before coming here . And I deliberately committed my crime . '' But Miller did n't elaborate on what his `` crime '' was . He said he would n't learn of his charges until he went to trial . It 's unclear whether his statements were made freely or under coercion . First stop was South Korea . Miller 's family lives in Bakersfield , and he is a 2008 graduate of Bakersfield High School , according to CNN affiliate KBAK . In a July interview , a neighbor told The Associated Press that Miller went to South Korea about four years ago to visit his brother and started teaching English . He traveled to North Korea this year after arranging a private tour through the U.S.-based company Uri Tours , which takes tourists into North Korea . Uri Tours has said it does n't have `` any understanding of why '' Miller ripped up his visa . The company offers tours despite U.S. State Department warnings about arbitrary arrest and detention in North Korea .
State media : Matthew Todd Miller wanted to become `` a world famous guy '' After his arrival , he tore his visa , it says . He also shouted his desire to seek asylum , according to state-run KCNA .