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Otto Warmbier Came Home in a Coma. Travel Company Says North Korea Is ‘Extremely Safe!’ Otto Warmbier Came Home in a Coma. Travel Company Says North Korea Is ‘Extremely Safe!’
(35 minutes later)
The website of Young Pioneer Tours anticipates a frequently asked question about North Korea: “How safe is it?”The website of Young Pioneer Tours anticipates a frequently asked question about North Korea: “How safe is it?”
“Extremely safe!” the company replies, in an answer that remained on its site without qualification even after the return this week of one of its customers, Otto F. Warmbier, in a coma with what doctors described Thursday as “extensive loss of brain tissue in all regions of his brain.”“Extremely safe!” the company replies, in an answer that remained on its site without qualification even after the return this week of one of its customers, Otto F. Warmbier, in a coma with what doctors described Thursday as “extensive loss of brain tissue in all regions of his brain.”
Mr. Warmbier, 22, a student at the University of Virginia, traveled to Pyongyang on a trip organized by Young Pioneer Tours in December 2015 and was imprisoned over alleged efforts to remove a propaganda sign from his hotel. For more than a year, North Korea declined diplomats’ requests to visit him. Then on Tuesday, it abruptly released him on “humanitarian grounds.”Mr. Warmbier, 22, a student at the University of Virginia, traveled to Pyongyang on a trip organized by Young Pioneer Tours in December 2015 and was imprisoned over alleged efforts to remove a propaganda sign from his hotel. For more than a year, North Korea declined diplomats’ requests to visit him. Then on Tuesday, it abruptly released him on “humanitarian grounds.”
Many questions remain about Mr. Warmbier’s precipitous decline in health, including whether he had been repeatedly beaten, as one senior American official suggested, citing recent intelligence reports, or slipped into a coma after contracting botulism and taking a sleeping pill, as North Korean diplomats asserted. It is also unclear why North Korea kept Mr. Warmbier’s condition a secret for so long and chose to release him now.Many questions remain about Mr. Warmbier’s precipitous decline in health, including whether he had been repeatedly beaten, as one senior American official suggested, citing recent intelligence reports, or slipped into a coma after contracting botulism and taking a sleeping pill, as North Korean diplomats asserted. It is also unclear why North Korea kept Mr. Warmbier’s condition a secret for so long and chose to release him now.
But the case has prompted fresh scrutiny of the agencies — many of them based in China — that take foreign tourists to North Korea and calls for new restrictions on travel to the country, where three other American citizens are still being held on charges of ill-defined crimes against the authoritarian state.But the case has prompted fresh scrutiny of the agencies — many of them based in China — that take foreign tourists to North Korea and calls for new restrictions on travel to the country, where three other American citizens are still being held on charges of ill-defined crimes against the authoritarian state.
Fred Warmbier, Otto’s father, lashed out at Young Pioneer Tours at an emotional news conference on Thursday. “The North Koreans lure Americans to travel to North Korea via tour groups, run out of China, who advertise slick ads on the internet proclaiming, ‘No American ever gets detained on our tours’ and ‘This is a safe place to go,’” he said.Fred Warmbier, Otto’s father, lashed out at Young Pioneer Tours at an emotional news conference on Thursday. “The North Koreans lure Americans to travel to North Korea via tour groups, run out of China, who advertise slick ads on the internet proclaiming, ‘No American ever gets detained on our tours’ and ‘This is a safe place to go,’” he said.
After Otto Warmbier was medically evacuated to the United States, Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson said the administration was considering restrictions on American travel to North Korea.After Otto Warmbier was medically evacuated to the United States, Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson said the administration was considering restrictions on American travel to North Korea.
Tourism in North Korea is tightly controlled by the government, and it is an important source of funds for the isolated nation’s economy; China said more than 237,000 of its citizens visited in 2012. But about 4,000 to 5,000 Western tourists visit annually too, drawn by the promise of an adventure far from the typical tourist trail. About 20 percent of them are from the United States, according to tour operators.Tourism in North Korea is tightly controlled by the government, and it is an important source of funds for the isolated nation’s economy; China said more than 237,000 of its citizens visited in 2012. But about 4,000 to 5,000 Western tourists visit annually too, drawn by the promise of an adventure far from the typical tourist trail. About 20 percent of them are from the United States, according to tour operators.
Young Pioneer Tours is one of a handful of companies authorized to organize trips to North Korea. Its website says it is based in the Chinese city of Xi’an and run by people from several countries including , Australia, Britain, China and New Zealand. It advertises “budget tours to destinations your mother wants you to stay away from,” including “the first North Korean booze cruise and beer festival.”Young Pioneer Tours is one of a handful of companies authorized to organize trips to North Korea. Its website says it is based in the Chinese city of Xi’an and run by people from several countries including , Australia, Britain, China and New Zealand. It advertises “budget tours to destinations your mother wants you to stay away from,” including “the first North Korean booze cruise and beer festival.”
Phone calls and emails to the company’s offices went unanswered on Friday. But a managing director, Troy Collings, was quoted saying the company is “obviously extremely upset” and defending travel to North Korea as safe. Troy Collings, North Korea tour manager for Young Pioneer, said his company’s “greatest wish is for a full recovery for Otto.” While the company wished it could have prevented what happened, Mr. Collings wrote in an email, “we didn’t see any signs of concern until it was too late.”
“We have had one arrest in ten years and have safely taken over 8,000 other tourists to the country,” Mr. Collings wrote in an email to NK News, an online publication that covers North Korea. “We still believe it’s a safe country to visit — tourists are not targets for crime, or terrorist attack.” The company intended its website’s statement about North Korea’s safety as a reflection of the lack of crime or terrorist attacks, he wrote.
He added that the company required its clients to read and sign documents about North Korean laws and customs, including warnings not to disrespect the nation’s political ideology or leaders and to stay clear of “staff only” areas. “We believe our current pre-tour procedures are more than adequate for informing our guests how to have a safe trip, something reflected by the fact we have taken more than 8,000 tourists into North Korea over the last ten years with only one arrest,” he wrote.
But Young Pioneer’s website presents a cheerier view of travel to North Korea than many of its competitors, describing it as “probably one of the safest places on Earth to visit.”But Young Pioneer’s website presents a cheerier view of travel to North Korea than many of its competitors, describing it as “probably one of the safest places on Earth to visit.”
Unlike some competitors, it makes no mention of the United States State Department’s travel advisory that “strongly warns” Americans against traveling to North Korea because of the “serious risk of arrest and long-term detention.” Instead, the website asks: “I’m American. Is this a problem?” and answers, “Not at all!”Unlike some competitors, it makes no mention of the United States State Department’s travel advisory that “strongly warns” Americans against traveling to North Korea because of the “serious risk of arrest and long-term detention.” Instead, the website asks: “I’m American. Is this a problem?” and answers, “Not at all!”
Adam Pitt, a British citizen who lives in Dubai and traveled with Young Pioneer to North Korea in 2013, said people on the tour drank excessively and asked inappropriate sexual questions of a female North Korean guide. The company’s co-founder, Gareth Johnson, did nothing to stop the behavior and was also drinking, he added.Adam Pitt, a British citizen who lives in Dubai and traveled with Young Pioneer to North Korea in 2013, said people on the tour drank excessively and asked inappropriate sexual questions of a female North Korean guide. The company’s co-founder, Gareth Johnson, did nothing to stop the behavior and was also drinking, he added.
“North Korea is not a budget destination,” Mr. Pitt said by email. “It’s not a place where you cut costs, and it’s not a place where you want to take risks.”“North Korea is not a budget destination,” Mr. Pitt said by email. “It’s not a place where you cut costs, and it’s not a place where you want to take risks.”
Anthony Ruggiero, a former State Department and Treasury Department official who is now a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington, said the United States should sanction tour companies that promote travel to North Korea as safe and impose limits on visit by Americans.Anthony Ruggiero, a former State Department and Treasury Department official who is now a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington, said the United States should sanction tour companies that promote travel to North Korea as safe and impose limits on visit by Americans.
“North Korea is essentially kidnapping Americans, detaining Americans for no real good reason,” he said.“North Korea is essentially kidnapping Americans, detaining Americans for no real good reason,” he said.
Mr. Ruggiero testified before Congress this year that North Korea uses the American detainees as a bargaining chips, distracting from diplomacy on other issues, including its nuclear and missile programs.Mr. Ruggiero testified before Congress this year that North Korea uses the American detainees as a bargaining chips, distracting from diplomacy on other issues, including its nuclear and missile programs.
Others argue that freedom of movement is an important right, and that tourism fosters mutual understanding that could help ease tensions between the United States and North Korea.Others argue that freedom of movement is an important right, and that tourism fosters mutual understanding that could help ease tensions between the United States and North Korea.
“I truly believe that the North Korean people will benefit from any contact they get, however small, with those that come from the outside world,” said Ron Lish, an American businessman who visited North Korea in February. “It’s my belief that these glimpses of the rest of the world provide them with information that they wouldn’t otherwise get.”“I truly believe that the North Korean people will benefit from any contact they get, however small, with those that come from the outside world,” said Ron Lish, an American businessman who visited North Korea in February. “It’s my belief that these glimpses of the rest of the world provide them with information that they wouldn’t otherwise get.”
Three Americans remain in North Korean custody, all of them of Korean ancestry: Kim Dong-chul, a businessman sentenced last year to 10 years in prison for espionage, and Tony Kim and Kim Hak-song, two volunteers at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, who were arrested earlier this year and accused of “hostile acts.”Three Americans remain in North Korean custody, all of them of Korean ancestry: Kim Dong-chul, a businessman sentenced last year to 10 years in prison for espionage, and Tony Kim and Kim Hak-song, two volunteers at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, who were arrested earlier this year and accused of “hostile acts.”
Diplomats say the North Korean authorities generally treat ethnic Koreans more harshly than other foreigners in detention.Diplomats say the North Korean authorities generally treat ethnic Koreans more harshly than other foreigners in detention.
Cheong Seong-chang, senior North Korea analyst at the Sejong Institute, a think tank in South Korea, said the North may have decided to release Mr. Warmbier “before things got worse, considering the backlash and sanctions it could expect should he die while he was in its custody.”Cheong Seong-chang, senior North Korea analyst at the Sejong Institute, a think tank in South Korea, said the North may have decided to release Mr. Warmbier “before things got worse, considering the backlash and sanctions it could expect should he die while he was in its custody.”
Mr. Cheong said that North Korea may be trying to open a channel of dialogue with the United States ahead of a summit meeting later this month between President Trump and South Korea’s new president, Moon Jae-in. By releasing Mr. Warmbier, he said, “North Korea opened the possibility of releasing the other American detainees as well.”Mr. Cheong said that North Korea may be trying to open a channel of dialogue with the United States ahead of a summit meeting later this month between President Trump and South Korea’s new president, Moon Jae-in. By releasing Mr. Warmbier, he said, “North Korea opened the possibility of releasing the other American detainees as well.”
But the severity of Mr. Warmbier’s condition, and the mystery surrounding it, complicates the prospects for talks. At the news conference on Thursday, Mr. Warmbier’s father said his son had been “brutalized and terrorized” during 18 months of captivity.But the severity of Mr. Warmbier’s condition, and the mystery surrounding it, complicates the prospects for talks. At the news conference on Thursday, Mr. Warmbier’s father said his son had been “brutalized and terrorized” during 18 months of captivity.
Doctors at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center said they found no sign of botulism or of beatings.Doctors at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center said they found no sign of botulism or of beatings.
They said Mr. Warmbier’s brain damage was most likely caused by cardiopulmonary arrest. Based on two M.R.I. scans sent by the North Koreans, they concluded that he had sustained his brain injury sometime before April 2016.They said Mr. Warmbier’s brain damage was most likely caused by cardiopulmonary arrest. Based on two M.R.I. scans sent by the North Koreans, they concluded that he had sustained his brain injury sometime before April 2016.
“I know you have many questions about what transpired,” Mr. Warmbier’s father said to reporters Thursday. “So do we. We have few answers.”“I know you have many questions about what transpired,” Mr. Warmbier’s father said to reporters Thursday. “So do we. We have few answers.”