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Trump denies paying North Korea for Warmbier treatment | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
President Trump has denied paying North Korea money for the medical care of comatose US student Otto Warmbier. | |
Warmbier was jailed in North Korea in 2015 during an organised tour and died after being returned to the US in a coma after 17 months in detention. | |
Earlier reports said that the US bad been billed $2m (£1.5m) for the student's medical care. | |
North Korea had allegedly demanded the bill be paid before he was allowed to return home. | |
Mr Trump denied the claim on Twitter on Friday. He wrote: "No money was paid to North Korea for Otto Warmbier, not two Million Dollars, not anything else." | |
On Thursday, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders refused to comment on the claim. In a statement to CBS, she said: "We do not comment on hostage negotiations, which is why they have been so successful during this administration." | |
The main US representative sent to retrieve Warmbier signed a pledge to pay the medical bill on the orders of President Trump, the Washington Post newspaper said, citing two people familiar with the situation. | |
The bill for Warmbier's care was then reportedly sent to the US Department of Treasury. | The bill for Warmbier's care was then reportedly sent to the US Department of Treasury. |
A former Department of State official told CBS News that the US never paid or intended to pay the $2m, though Joseph Yun, the department's North Korea lead at the time, did accept the bill. | A former Department of State official told CBS News that the US never paid or intended to pay the $2m, though Joseph Yun, the department's North Korea lead at the time, did accept the bill. |
The former official noted that the acceptance of the bill happened under Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who was keen on opening up a dialogue with North Korea. | The former official noted that the acceptance of the bill happened under Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who was keen on opening up a dialogue with North Korea. |
The unnamed source said Mr Tillerson's awareness of Warmbier's critical condition, or his lack of political experience may have contributed to the decision. | The unnamed source said Mr Tillerson's awareness of Warmbier's critical condition, or his lack of political experience may have contributed to the decision. |
The Washington Post was the first to report the bill. | The Washington Post was the first to report the bill. |
Warmbier was accused of stealing a sign from the hotel where he and fellow students had been staying in the capital, and was sentenced to 15 years' hard labour. | Warmbier was accused of stealing a sign from the hotel where he and fellow students had been staying in the capital, and was sentenced to 15 years' hard labour. |
By the time he returned to the US after 17 months in detention, the Ohio native was comatose and suffered from brain damage. | By the time he returned to the US after 17 months in detention, the Ohio native was comatose and suffered from brain damage. |
North Korea says he fell into a coma after contracting botulism and taking a sleeping pill. | North Korea says he fell into a coma after contracting botulism and taking a sleeping pill. |
US doctors found no evidence of botulism and said that the student had suffered a "severe neurological injury", probably caused by a cardiopulmonary arrest. | US doctors found no evidence of botulism and said that the student had suffered a "severe neurological injury", probably caused by a cardiopulmonary arrest. |
Though North Korea has denied mistreating the 22-year-old student, his parents insist that his death in July 2017 was the consequence of torture. | Though North Korea has denied mistreating the 22-year-old student, his parents insist that his death in July 2017 was the consequence of torture. |