Only days after he was medically evacuated from North Korea, American citizen Otto Warmbier has passed away.
Just 17 months into his 15-year prison sentence of hard labor, US officials demanded his release on humanitarian grounds as it became apparent that Otto, who was in a coma, needed urgent care. After touching down last Tuesday in Cincinnati, Ohio, he was rushed to hospital.
READ MORE: US College Student Released from North Korea in a Coma
Warmbier was sentenced in the DPRK back in March 2016 for "hostile acts against the state" after allegedly attempting to steal a propaganda poster from his hotel. Some have disputed that, however, with experts pointing out that prisoners in North Korea are often coerced into making confessions.
Meanwhile, Warmbier's Pyongyang hotel roommate, Danny Gratton, told the Washington Post this week that he was skeptical of the accusations:
"Gratton said that in the four days they spent together, Warmbier never said anything about a banner and that he saw zero evidence that Warmbier was planning any such act — quite the opposite. The first Gratton heard of the alleged attempted theft was when it was mentioned in news reports weeks later. Gratton and Warmbier weren’t together 24 hours each day, but they traveled together during the day and hung out each night.
“'I’ve got nothing from my experiences with him that would suggest he would do something like that,' he said. 'At no stage did I ever think he was anything but a very, very polite kid.'”
Gratton says he was the last person to see Warmbier, who was pulled aside by security at Pyongyang International Airport shortly after the pair had handed their passports to an immigration officer:
"There was a lull, followed by the appearance of two North Korean security officials, who took Warmbier to a private room. Gratton assumed it was a routine check or another form of mild harassment because Warmbier was American.
“'No words were spoken. Two guards just come over and simply tapped Otto on the shoulder and led him away,' Gratton said. 'I just said kind of quite nervously, ‘Well, that’s the last we’ll see of you.’ There’s a great irony in those words.'
“'That was it. That was the last physical time I saw Otto, ever. I was also the only person to see Otto taken away,' Gratton said. 'Otto didn’t resist. He didn’t look scared. He sort of half-smiled.'”
According to North Korean officials, Warmbier slipped into a coma shortly after his March trial. They say he became comatose after contracting botulism and being given a sleeping pill. Yet despite being in a coma for most of his detention, his parents and US officials were only made aware earlier this month when possibility of his release became imminent.
Warmbier made a publicized tearful confession ahead of his sentence to 15 years of hard labor in North Korea
The 22-year-old University of Virginia student (who was 21 at the time of his arrest) was detained at Pyongyang airport in January 2016 after his trip with official tour group, Young Pioneers Tours. Speaking to NK News on Friday, the tour group reiterated that they were "obviously upset" by the incident, but maintained the claim on their website that visiting North Korea is "extremely safe." However, today they released a statement on their Facebook page declaring that they will "no longer be organizing tours for US citizens to North Korea" as the risk has become too high.
That's reached out for further comment to Gareth Johnson, the 36-year-old Englishman who is the founder of Young Pioneer Tours. We will update this story if we hear back from either Mr. Johnson or Young Pioneer Tours.
Speaking at the University of Cincinnati Health Center last Thursday, doctors had told a press conference that Warmbier's neurological condition could be best described as in a "state of unresponsive wakefulness" with "extensive loss of brain tissue in all regions of the brain."
They stated that while the cause was unclear, these symptoms were likely due to a cardiopulmonary arrest and lack of oxygen supply to the brain. They also revealed there was no evidence to suggest that he had contracted botulism. The claim that he had botulism is also contested by Otto's family, who said even if it were true, there is "no excuse for any civilized nation to keep his condition secret and denied him top notch medical care for so long."
In a written statement released early this morning, parents Fred and Cindy Warmbier confirmed that Otto had passed away at 2.20pm on Monday afternoon at peace and surrounded by family.
Fred Warmbier spoke during a press conference at Otto's high school last week.
"The awful torturous mistreatment our son received at the hands of the North Koreans ensured that no other outcome was possible beyond the sad one we experienced today," they wrote, before thanking everyone for their support and prayers.
“Although we would never hear his voice again, within a day the countenance of his face changed - he was at peace,” the statement continued. “He was home and we believe he could sense that.”
A statement from US President Donald Trump read: “Melania and I offer our deepest condolences to the family of Otto Warmbier on his untimely passing. There is nothing more tragic for a parent than to lose a child in the prime of life. Our thoughts and prayers are with Otto’s family and friends, and all those who loved him.”
With critics such as US Senator John McCain calling it murder, the already tense relations between North Korea and the US continue to worsen. Three other American citizens remain imprisoned.
Iconic NBA star Dennis Rodman was in North Korea last week, though US officials stressed his visit had nothing to do with Warmbier’s release. Despite befriending Kim Jong-un, he reportedly did not meet with the North Korean leader.
Additional reporting by Connor Frankhouser
[Images via BBC, NPR, Daily Mail]
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