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U-Va. student held in North Korea ‘confesses’ to ‘severe’ crime U-Va. student held in North Korea ‘confesses’ to ‘severe’ crime
(about 9 hours later)
TOKYO — A University of Virginia student detained in North Korea confessed, in a highly orchestrated news conference Monday, to the “very severe and pre-planned” crime of trying to steal a propaganda sign from a hotel in Pyongyang. TOKYO — A tearful University of Virginia student detained in North Korea confessed, in a highly orchestrated news conference Monday, to the “very severe and pre-planned” crime of trying to steal a propaganda sign from a hotel in Pyongyang.
Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old economics major, had not been seen since he was arrested at Pyongyang airport on Jan. 2, at the end of a five-day tour to North Korea. But it wasn’t until three weeks later that Kim Jong Un’s regime announced it was holding the Ohio native for an unspecified “hostile act” against the state. Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old economics major, had not been seen since he was arrested at Pyongyang airport on Jan. 2, at the end of a five-day tour to North Korea. The trip was a stopover on his way to Hong Kong, where he was to take part in a university-sponsored financial class.
In the meantime, North Korea has conducted a nuclear test and a long-range missile launch, inflaming tensions with the outside world. But it wasn’t until three weeks later that Kim Jong Un’s regime announced it was holding the Ohio native for an unspecified “hostile act” against the state. In the meantime, North Korea has conducted a nuclear test and a long-range missile launch, inflaming tensions with the outside world.
Escorted by North Korean guards into a news conference in Pyongyang on Monday, Warmbier, reading from handwritten notes, said he had tried to steal a political sign promoting “the [North] Korean people’s love for their system” from the hotel, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. Escorted by North Korean guards into a news conference in Pyongyang on Monday, Warmbier, reading from handwritten notes, said he had tried to steal a political sign promoting “the [North] Korean people’s love for their system” from the hotel.
[North Korea’s recipe for bargaining: Detainee, script, TV cameras][North Korea’s recipe for bargaining: Detainee, script, TV cameras]
“The aim of my task was to harm the motivation and work ethic of the Korean people. This was a very foolish aim,” Warmbier said after performing a deep, and rather clumsy, bow in front of the mainly North Korean reporters. He was wearing a beige jacket with a shirt and tie, and was clean shaven. He appeared to be in good health. “The aim of my task was to harm the motivation and work ethic of the Korean people. This was a very foolish aim,” Warmbier said. He was wearing a beige jacket with a shirt and tie and was cleanshaven. He appeared to be in good health.
Americans who previously have been detained in North Korea have also been brought out to the press to “confess” their crimes, with the detainees told what to say and the reporters told what to ask. Americans who previously have been detained in North Korea have also been brought out to the news media to “confess” their crimes, with the detainees told what to say and the reporters told what to ask. After saying he had made the “worst mistake of my life” as he asked for forgiveness, Warmbier performed a deep bow in front of the mainly North Korean reporters.
Analysts expect that Warmbier was also directed in this way to deliver Monday’s bizarre statement, in which the student said he was impressed by North Korea’s “humanitarian treatment of severe criminals like myself.” Analysts say Warmbier was probably told what to say and how to deliver the bizarre statement, in which the student said he was impressed by North Korea’s “humanitarian treatment of severe criminals like myself” and referred to the “connivance” of the “United States administration.”
In his appearance before the media, Warmbier said he had been instructed by a female member of Friendship United Methodist Church in Ohio to steal one of North Korea’s ubiquitous propaganda signs and take it back to the United States as a “trophy.” Such “confessions,” which are repeatedly played on North Korean television for domestic propaganda purposes, are usually a necessary step before detainees can be released.
However, recent detainees have had to go through a show trial and conviction before being freed.
Warmbier’s parents, Fred and Cindy, have not been able to contact their son since his arrest and released a statement through U-Va. in which they urged North Korea to release him.
“I hope the fact that he has conveyed his sincere apology for anything that he may have done wrong will now make it possible for the DPRK authorities to allow him to return home,” the statement said, using the official acronym for North Korea and written in the voice of Fred. “I urge the DPRK government to consider his youth and make an important humanitarian gesture by allowing him to return to his loved ones.”
In his appearance before the media, Otto Warmbier said he had been instructed by a female member of Friendship United Methodist Church in Wyoming, Ohio, to steal one of North Korea’s ubiquitous propaganda signs and take it back to the United States as a “trophy.”
All across North Korea, from factories and government offices to hillsides and intersections, there are propangandistic slogans lauding the ruling Kim regime, which maintains power through an all-encompassing personality cult. Speaking ill of the Kims — or even folding a newspaper so the leader’s face is halved — is treasonous.All across North Korea, from factories and government offices to hillsides and intersections, there are propangandistic slogans lauding the ruling Kim regime, which maintains power through an all-encompassing personality cult. Speaking ill of the Kims — or even folding a newspaper so the leader’s face is halved — is treasonous.
Taking the banner would “harm the unity and motivation of the North Korean people and show this country an insult from the West,” Warmbier said, adding that the plan had the U.S. government’s approval.Taking the banner would “harm the unity and motivation of the North Korean people and show this country an insult from the West,” Warmbier said, adding that the plan had the U.S. government’s approval.
[After nuclear test, Park has epiphanies on North Korea — and China][After nuclear test, Park has epiphanies on North Korea — and China]
The church member would give him a used car worth $10,000 if he stole the sign, and would pay $200,000 to his mother if he was arrested in the process, according to the KCNA report. The church member would give him a used car worth $10,000 if he stole the sign and would pay $200,000 to his mother if he was arrested in the process.
Warmbier said his family’s “very severe financial difficulties” made him do it. “I started to consider this as my only golden opportunity to earn money,” he said, adding that his family would not be paid if he mentioned the church’s involvement.Warmbier said his family’s “very severe financial difficulties” made him do it. “I started to consider this as my only golden opportunity to earn money,” he said, adding that his family would not be paid if he mentioned the church’s involvement.
CNN, which said it had a copy of a video of the news conference, reported that Warmbier sobbed and pleaded for forgiveness. He also said that the Z Society, a student group at U-Va., “clandestinely encouraged my act.”
“I never, never should have allowed myself to be lured by the United States administration to commit a crime in this country,” the student said, according to CNN. “I wish that the United States administration never manipulate people like myself in the future to commit crimes against foreign countries. I entirely beg you, the people and government of the DPRK, for your forgiveness,” he said, using the initials for North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
[When it comes to punishing North Korea, it’s Groundhog Day][When it comes to punishing North Korea, it’s Groundhog Day]
The slogan was on a staff-only floor of the Yanggakdo Hotel, which is called “Alcatraz” by regular foreign visitors because it is situated on an island in the river that runs through Pyongyang and impossible to get off without detection. He reportedly pulled the banner from the wall but realized it was too big to carry off, so abandoned it there. The slogan was on a staff-only floor of the Yanggakdo hotel, which is called “Alcatraz” by regular foreign visitors because it is situated on an island in the river that runs through Pyongyang and impossible to get off without detection. He reportedly pulled the banner from the wall but realized it was too big to carry off, so he abandoned it there.
Warmbier was on a trip organized by Young Pioneers Tours, one of a handful of travel companies that take adventurous tourists into North Korea. Warmbier was on a trip organized by Young Pioneers Tours, one of a handful of travel companies that take adventurous tourists into North Korea. The company, which had previously referred to an incident at the hotel, said it had nothing to add following Warmbier's statement.
The U.S. government, which does not have diplomatic relations with North Korea and is instead represented there by the Swedish Embassy, advises Americans against travel to North Korea, partly because of the risk of detention. In Washington, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said that the U.S. government, which does not have diplomatic relations with North Korea, was working with the Swedish Embassy, which represents American interests there, on the case.
Several U.S. citizens have been held in Pyongyang in recent years, usually because of activities relating to Christianity, and have been released only after high-profile interventions.
Former president Bill Clinton went to Pyongyang to secure the release of journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee in 2009, while Jimmy Carter traveled to the North Korean capital the following year to collect Aijalon Gomes, a Boston man who entered the country illegally.
In 2014, James R. Clapper Jr., director of national intelligence, went to Pyongyang to free three Americans being held, two of them for Christianity-related “crimes.” In North Korea, where the Kim family is treated like deities, religion is banned.
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