 Illegal border crossing is considered a crime, and captured illegal border crossers have been sentenced to prison terms.For example, "Rossiyskaya Gazeta" reported in October 2008 the case of a North Korean who was detained after illegally crossing the Amur River from China.Considered by Russian authorities an "economic migrant", he was sentenced to 6 months in prison and was to be deported to the country of his nationality after serving his sentence, even though he may now risk an even heavier penalty there.