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| Otto Warmbier, American Held by North Korea, Is Evacuated in a Coma | Otto Warmbier, American Held by North Korea, Is Evacuated in a Coma |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| WASHINGTON — Otto F. Warmbier, an American college student held prisoner in North Korea for more than a year, has been medically evacuated from the reclusive country in a coma and is on his way back to the United States, according to a statement from his parents. | WASHINGTON — Otto F. Warmbier, an American college student held prisoner in North Korea for more than a year, has been medically evacuated from the reclusive country in a coma and is on his way back to the United States, according to a statement from his parents. |
| “We want the world to know how we and our son have been brutalized and terrorized by the pariah regime” in North Korea, Fred and Cindy Warmbier said in a statement to The Associated Press. They said they were grateful their son would “finally be with people who love him.” | “We want the world to know how we and our son have been brutalized and terrorized by the pariah regime” in North Korea, Fred and Cindy Warmbier said in a statement to The Associated Press. They said they were grateful their son would “finally be with people who love him.” |
| A senior American official said there had been intelligence reports in recent weeks that indicated Mr. Warmbier had been repeatedly beaten while in North Korean custody. The official, who was not authorized to publicly discuss intelligence and spoke anonymously, said there were initial concerns that Mr. Warmbier had died as a result of the beatings. | |
| Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson issued a statement on Tuesday announcing the release of Mr. Warmbier, 23, who was sentenced to a 15-year prison term for trying to steal a propaganda poster in January 2016. People close to the negotiations that led to his release said that Mr. Warmbier was on his way from Japan to Anchorage, where the plane carrying him would refuel and continue on to Cincinnati, where his parents live. | Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson issued a statement on Tuesday announcing the release of Mr. Warmbier, 23, who was sentenced to a 15-year prison term for trying to steal a propaganda poster in January 2016. People close to the negotiations that led to his release said that Mr. Warmbier was on his way from Japan to Anchorage, where the plane carrying him would refuel and continue on to Cincinnati, where his parents live. |
| “At the direction of the president, the Department of State has secured the release of Otto Warmbier from North Korea,” Mr. Tillerson said in his statement. “Mr. Warmbier is en route to the United States, where he will be reunited with his family.” | “At the direction of the president, the Department of State has secured the release of Otto Warmbier from North Korea,” Mr. Tillerson said in his 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 student at the University of Virginia. But people briefed on the situation, who insisted on anonymity to discuss the highly sensitive diplomatic matter, said that when American officials learned last week of Mr. Warmbier’s medical condition, they intensified their efforts to secure his release. | He did not provide any details about the negotiations for the release of Mr. Warmbier, a student at the University of Virginia. But people briefed on the situation, who insisted on anonymity to discuss the highly sensitive diplomatic matter, said that when American officials learned last week of Mr. Warmbier’s medical condition, they intensified their efforts to secure his release. |
| The details of Mr. Warmbier’s condition are unclear. His family was told that he had contracted botulism and was given a sleeping pill, causing him to slip into the coma, the people briefed on the situation said, but that explanation has not been independently confirmed. | The details of Mr. Warmbier’s condition are unclear. His family was told that he had contracted botulism and was given a sleeping pill, causing him to slip into the coma, the people briefed on the situation said, but that explanation has not been independently confirmed. |
| “Out of respect for the privacy of Mr. Warmbier and his family, we have no further comment,” Mr. Tillerson said in his statement. Asked later at a Senate committee hearing about Mr. Warmbier’s health, Mr. Tillerson declined to comment. | “Out of respect for the privacy of Mr. Warmbier and his family, we have no further comment,” Mr. Tillerson said in his statement. Asked later at a Senate committee hearing about Mr. Warmbier’s health, Mr. Tillerson declined to comment. |
| 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. | 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. |
| “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. | “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. |
| A senior aide to Mr. Portman said the senator had been working for months to try to help secure Mr. Warmbier’s release, consulting President Trump and Mr. Tillerson as well as John Kerry, the former secretary of state, and Bill Richardson, the former governor of New Mexico and a periodic negotiator with the North Korean government. | A senior aide to Mr. Portman said the senator had been working for months to try to help secure Mr. Warmbier’s release, consulting President Trump and Mr. Tillerson as well as John Kerry, the former secretary of state, and Bill Richardson, the former governor of New Mexico and a periodic negotiator with the North Korean government. |
| “North Korea’s despicable actions in detaining and holding Otto were unacceptable and must be condemned,” said Senator Sherrod Brown, Democrat of Ohio, who added that he had closely followed Mr. Warmbier’s case. “We must continue working to free all Americans who are being held by North Korea.” | “North Korea’s despicable actions in detaining and holding Otto were unacceptable and must be condemned,” said Senator Sherrod Brown, Democrat of Ohio, who added that he had closely followed Mr. Warmbier’s case. “We must continue working to free all Americans who are being held by North Korea.” |
| 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 taken at the time of the trial, Mr. Warmbier appeared dazed and seemingly had to be carried by North Korean soldiers. | 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 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 that he had stolen the poster because an acquaintance 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. | In a tearful news conference in Pyongyang last year, Mr. Warmbier said that he had stolen the poster because an acquaintance 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. | 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.” | 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. |
| Information about Mr. Warmbier’s condition and detention was impossible to come by before now. He last had a consular visit from Swedish diplomats, who represent United States interests in North Korea, in March 2016, according to Suzanne DiMaggio, a director and senior fellow at New America, a research institute in Washington, who participated in separate talks with North Korea in Oslo in May. | Information about Mr. Warmbier’s condition and detention was impossible to come by before now. He last had a consular visit from Swedish diplomats, who represent United States interests in North Korea, in March 2016, according to Suzanne DiMaggio, a director and senior fellow at New America, a research institute in Washington, who participated in separate talks with North Korea in Oslo in May. |
| Keeping Mr. Warmbier isolated for so long was first seen as retaliation for the sanctions issued in July 2016 that targeted the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un. Now it seems likely that it was an effort to conceal the state of Mr. Warmbier’s health, Ms. DiMaggio said. | Keeping Mr. Warmbier isolated for so long was first seen as retaliation for the sanctions issued in July 2016 that targeted the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un. Now it seems likely that it was an effort to conceal the state of Mr. Warmbier’s health, Ms. DiMaggio said. |
| “One way to look at this is maybe it’s a step forward, maybe they will release the other three Americans, and negotiations can get started,” Ms. DiMaggio said. “But if he was in a coma, that’s not a good sign. If his health becomes something more serious, it could actually dampen the atmosphere against talks.” | “One way to look at this is maybe it’s a step forward, maybe they will release the other three Americans, and negotiations can get started,” Ms. DiMaggio said. “But if he was in a coma, that’s not a good sign. If his health becomes something more serious, it could actually dampen the atmosphere against talks.” |
| Ms. DiMaggio, who participated in so-called Track 2 talks with North Korean representatives in Norway last month, declined to speak about the content of those negotiations. | Ms. DiMaggio, who participated in so-called Track 2 talks with North Korean representatives in Norway last month, declined to speak about the content of those negotiations. |
| Mintaro Oba, who served as a diplomat on the State Department’s Korea desk when Mr. Warmbier was arrested, said that during his tenure, the North Koreans had not allowed anyone from the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang to visit Mr. Warmbier in detention to assess his health or well-being. | Mintaro Oba, who served as a diplomat on the State Department’s Korea desk when Mr. Warmbier was arrested, said that during his tenure, the North Koreans had not allowed anyone from the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang to visit Mr. Warmbier in detention to assess his health or well-being. |
| “That’s sort of a very, very basic thing that we expect in this type of situation,” said Mr. Oba, who left the State Department in September, “that our protecting power would be able to send someone in to assess the health and livelihood of the person who is being detained.” | “That’s sort of a very, very basic thing that we expect in this type of situation,” said Mr. Oba, who left the State Department in September, “that our protecting power would be able to send someone in to assess the health and livelihood of the person who is being detained.” |