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Otto Warmbier: North Korea releases jailed US student Otto Warmbier: North Korea releases jailed US student 'in coma'
(35 minutes later)
North Korea has released jailed US student Otto Warmbier, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says. US student Otto Warmbier has been freed from jail in North Korea, but his parents say he has been in a coma for a year.
Mr Warmbier, 22, was sentenced in March 2016 to 15 years hard labour for attempting to steal a propaganda sign from a hotel. The US secretary of state said the 22-year-old was on his way home to the US.
Mr Tillerson said Mr Warmbier was on his way back to the US to be reunited with his family in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Warmbier family told US media they had found out only last week that their son has been in a coma since shortly after his trial in March 2016.
The Washington Post quotes his father Fred as saying his son has been medically evacuated while in a coma. Mr Warmbier was sentenced to 15 years of hard labour for attempting to steal a propaganda sign from a hotel.
The newspaper says Mr Warmbier's parents have been told their son contracted botulism, a rare illness that causes paralysis, soon after his trial 15 months ago. He was given a sleeping pill, and has been in a coma ever since, they were told. Who is Otto Warmbier?
"Our son is coming home," Fred Warmbier is quoted as saying. "At the moment, we're just treating this like he's been in an accident. We get to see our son Otto tonight." Otto Warmbier is an economics graduate from the University of Virginia, originally from Cincinnati, Ohio.
Forced confession? He was in North Korea as a tourist with Young Pioneer Tours when he was arrested on 2 January 2016.
Otto Warmbier, an economics graduate from the University of Virginia, was in North Korea as a tourist with Young Pioneer Tours when he was arrested on 2 January 2016.
He gave a televised confession a month later, in which he said he had tried to take the sign as a "trophy" for a US church, adding "the aim of my task was to harm the motivation and work ethic of the Korean people".He gave a televised confession a month later, in which he said he had tried to take the sign as a "trophy" for a US church, adding "the aim of my task was to harm the motivation and work ethic of the Korean people".
It was not clear whether he had made the statement voluntarily, but foreign detainees in North Korea have previously recanted confessions, saying they were made under pressure.It was not clear whether he had made the statement voluntarily, but foreign detainees in North Korea have previously recanted confessions, saying they were made under pressure.
After a short trial on 16 March, Mr Warmbier was sentenced to 15 years of hard labour for crimes against the state. After a short trial on 16 March, Mr Warmbier was given a 15-year prison sentence for crimes against the state.
His parents Fred and Cindy told CNN earlier this month that they had had no contact with their son for more than a year.His parents Fred and Cindy told CNN earlier this month that they had had no contact with their son for more than a year.
They spoke out about their fears for his safety as tensions rose after North Korea carried out missile tests and US warships were deployed to the region.They spoke out about their fears for his safety as tensions rose after North Korea carried out missile tests and US warships were deployed to the region.
What is his condition now?
In a statement, Fred and Cindy said: "Otto has left North Korea. He is on a Medivac flight on his way home.
"Sadly, he is in a coma and we have been told he has been in that condition since March 2016. We learned of this only one week ago."
They were quoted by the Washington Post as saying they had been told Otto contracted botulism, a rare illness that causes paralysis, soon after his trial in March 2016.
He was given a sleeping pill, and has been in a coma ever since, the newspaper said.
Rodman in PyongyangRodman in Pyongyang
Mr Warmbier's release comes hours after US basketball star Dennis Rodman arrived in North Korea, but it is not clear if the two events are linked.Mr Warmbier's release comes hours after US basketball star Dennis Rodman arrived in North Korea, but it is not clear if the two events are linked.
Mr Rodman is a friend of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and has made several visits to the country in recent years.Mr Rodman is a friend of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and has made several visits to the country in recent years.
He said upon his arrival this time that he was in the country as a private citizen, and "my purpose is to actually see if I can keep bringing sports to North Korea".He said upon his arrival this time that he was in the country as a private citizen, and "my purpose is to actually see if I can keep bringing sports to North Korea".
Three other US citizens remain in custody in North Korea. They are 62-year-old Kim Dong-chul, a Korean-American missionary; Korean-American professor Kim Sang-duk (or Tony Kim); and Kim Hak-song, who worked at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST).Three other US citizens remain in custody in North Korea. They are 62-year-old Kim Dong-chul, a Korean-American missionary; Korean-American professor Kim Sang-duk (or Tony Kim); and Kim Hak-song, who worked at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST).
Mr Tillerson, in his statement, said the US state department "continues to have discussions" with North Korea over the remaining three detainees. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, in his statement, said the US state department "continues to have discussions" with North Korea over the remaining three detainees.
He said they would make no further comment on Mr Warmbier "out of respect for the privacy" of his family.He said they would make no further comment on Mr Warmbier "out of respect for the privacy" of his family.