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Otto Warmbier, American Held in North Korea, Has Been Released Otto Warmbier, American Held in North Korea, Has Been Released
(35 minutes later)
Otto F. Warmbier, an American college student held prisoner in North Korea for more than a year, has been released and is on his way back to the United States, Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson said on Tuesday.Otto F. Warmbier, an American college student held prisoner in North Korea for more than a year, has been released and is on his way back to the United States, Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson said on Tuesday.
Mr. Warmbier, 23, was sentenced to a 15-year prison term for trying to steal a propaganda poster in January 2016.Mr. Warmbier, 23, was sentenced to a 15-year prison term for trying to steal a propaganda poster in January 2016.
“Otto’s detainment and sentence was unnecessary and appalling, and North Korea should be universally condemned for its abhorrent behavior,” Senator Rob Portman, Republican of Ohio, said. “At the direction of the President, the Department of State has secured the release of Otto Warmbier from North Korea,” Mr. Tillerson said in a statement. “Mr. Warmbier is en route to the United States, where he will be reunited with his family.”
He did not provide any details about the negotiations for the release of Mr. Warmbier, a University of Virginia student originally from the Cincinnati area.
The announcement of Mr. Warmbier’s release comes as Dennis Rodman, a former professional basketball player who has a relationship with North Korea’s leader, was visiting the communist dictatorship.
Mr. Warmbier was medically evacuated from North Korea in a coma, his parents told The Washington Post.Mr. Warmbier was medically evacuated from North Korea in a coma, his parents told The Washington Post.
News of Mr. Warmbier’s release comes as Dennis Rodman, a former professional basketball player who has a relationship with North Korea’s leader, was visiting the communist dictatorship. “Out of respect for the privacy of Mr. Warmbier and his family, we have no further comment,” Mr. Tillerson said in the statement. Asked later at a Senate committee hearing about Mr. Warmbier’s health, Mr. Tillerson declined to comment.
Mr. Warmbier, a University of Virginia student originally from the Cincinnati area, had visited North Korea on a group tour last year. He was about to board a flight home when he was detained. “Otto’s detainment and sentence was unnecessary and appalling, and North Korea should be universally condemned for its abhorrent behavior,” Senator Rob Portman, Republican of Ohio, said.
In announcing his arrest, state news media said that Mr. Warmbier had visited North Korea with the intention of “bringing down the foundation of its single-minded unity.” Mr. Warmbier visited North Korea on a group tour last year. He was about to board a flight home when he was detained. In video footage taken at the time of the trial, Mr. Warmbier appeared dazed and seemingly had to be carried by North Korean soldiers.
In a tearful news conference in Pyongyang last year, Mr. Warmbier said he had stolen the poster because an acquaintance had offered to give him a used car worth $10,000 in exchange for it. “I made the worst mistake of my life,” Mr. Warmbier said. It is unclear whether his statement was genuine or coerced.
Hours after video of the news conference emerged, the Obama administration announced broad new sanctions against North Korea.
In announcing his arrest in 2016, North Korean state news media said that Mr. Warmbier had visited the country with the intention of “bringing down the foundation of its single-minded unity.”
The State Department repeatedly warns Americans not to visit North Korea, which has detained a host of Americans over the years on a variety of charges. At least three other Americans remain in detention there.The State Department repeatedly warns Americans not to visit North Korea, which has detained a host of Americans over the years on a variety of charges. At least three other Americans remain in detention there.