U.S. citizen Miller Matthew Todd, who was sentenced to six years of hard labor last week, had sought arrest deliberately in order to investigate human rights situation in prisons of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), state media reported Saturday.

The purpose of his visit was to "spy on prison and human rights performance" in the country after he was deliberately caught and sent to prison, the official KCNA news agency reported.

He also allegedly tried to meet another detained U.S. citizen Kenneth Bae and negotiate for Bae's release.

Bae, a 46-year-old Korean-American missionary, was arrested for "committing hostile acts against the DPRK" in November 2012 after entering Rason City as a tourist. He was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor last year.

Todd, aged 24, had been detained since April 10 when he tore up his visa on arrival at Pyongyang's international airport in an alleged attempt to seek asylum in the country.

He was put into prison by the court on Sept. 14 on charges of committing "anti-DPRK acts" "under the disguise of a tourist."

The DPRK is vigilant of the forces behind Todd's case and will mercilessly punish whoever dares to make provocations, the report said.

The state media also lashed out at the "reckless remarks" and "smear campaign" made by U.S. officials including State Secretary John Kerry who labeled the DPRK a "country of evil" for rockets firing and human rights records.

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