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Otto Warmbier Was ‘Brutalized and Terrorized’ in North Korea, His Father Says Otto Warmbier Was ‘Brutalized and Terrorized’ in North Korea, Father Says
(35 minutes later)
WYOMING, Ohio — The father of Otto Warmbier, the 22-year-old student who was released from North Korea, said Thursday that his son was “brutalized and terrorized” during 18 months of captivity, hours after the North said it had freed him on “humanitarian grounds.” WYOMING, Ohio — The father of Otto Warmbier, the 22-year-old student who was released from North Korea, said on Thursday that his son was “brutalized and terrorized” during 18 months of captivity, hours after the North said it had freed him on “humanitarian grounds.”
Speaking to a packed news conference at the local high school, the father, Fred Warmbier, also praised the administration of President Trump for working to free his son, and made clear his displeasure with the administration of former President Barack Obama, whose officials, he said, had advised the family to stay quiet so as not to antagonize the North Koreans. Speaking to a packed news conference at the local high school, the father, Fred Warmbier, also praised the administration of President Trump for working to free his son. He also made clear his displeasure with the administration of former President Barack Obama, whose officials, he said, had advised the family to stay quiet so as not to antagonize the North Koreans.
“The result speak for themselves,” Mr. Warmbier said. He said Mr. Trump called him last night and recalled the president telling him, “We worked hard and I’m sorry this is the outcome.’’ “The result speak for themselves,” Mr. Warmbier said. He said Mr. Trump called him Wednesday night and told him, “We worked hard, and I’m sorry this is the outcome.”
The younger Mr. Warmbier, an honors student at the University of Virginia who grew up in this small city adjacent to Cincinnati, is being evaluated by doctors at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. A hospital spokeswoman said that he is in stable condition, with a “severe neurological injury.” The younger Mr. Warmbier, an honors student at the University of Virginia who grew up in this small city adjacent to Cincinnati, is being evaluated by doctors at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. A hospital spokeswoman said that he was in stable condition, with a “severe neurological injury.”
A senior American official said that Mr. Warmbier was singled out for particularly brutal beatings while in captivity, but little else is known of his ordeal. In its statement about Mr. Warmbier on Thursday, North Korea did not reveal any details of his medical condition or of the diplomatic negotiations that led to his release.A senior American official said that Mr. Warmbier was singled out for particularly brutal beatings while in captivity, but little else is known of his ordeal. In its statement about Mr. Warmbier on Thursday, North Korea did not reveal any details of his medical condition or of the diplomatic negotiations that led to his release.
“We have very few answers,’’ Mr. Warmbier said. Asked about his son’s medical condition, he said only, “We’re trying to make him comfortable.’’ “We have very few answers,” Mr. Warmbier said. Asked about his son’s medical condition, he said only, “We’re trying to make him comfortable.”
In December 2015, the younger Mr. Warmbier embarked on a five-day tour of the North with a Chinese company that advertised “budget travel to destinations your mother would rather you stayed away from.” During the news conference, his father lashed out at the tour company, Young Pioneer Tours, and accused North Korea of endangering Americans by luring them to the North. In December 2015, the younger Mr. Warmbier embarked on a five-day tour of the North with a Chinese company that advertised “budget travel to destinations your mother would rather you stayed away from.” During the news conference on Thursday, his father lashed out at the tour company, Young Pioneer Tours, and accused North Korea of endangering Americans by luring them to the North.
Otto Warmbier was detained at the Pyongyang airport in early January as he tried to leave and charged with an unspecified “hostile act” against the government. He later gave a tearful televised statement, in which he confessed to stealing a propaganda poster; he was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor during a one-hour trial in March 2016. Mr. Warmbier was detained at the Pyongyang airport in early January 2016 as he tried to leave and charged with an unspecified “hostile act” against the government. He later gave a tearful televised statement, in which he confessed to stealing a propaganda poster; he was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor during a one-hour trial in March 2016.
Mr. Warmbier, describing his son’s return as “bittersweet,” wore the same cream-colored jacket that Otto wore when making his confession — a statement that the father called “an amazing performance.” The elder Mr. Warmbier also dismissed the North’s explanation that his son’s condition was the result of a combination of botulism and a sleeping pill. Fred Warmbier, describing his son’s return as “bittersweet,” wore the same cream-color jacket that Otto wore when making his confession — a statement that he called “an amazing performance.” He also dismissed the North’s explanation that his son’s condition was the result of a combination of botulism and a sleeping pill.
“Even if you believe their explanation of botulism and a sleeping pill causing the coma — and we don’t — there is no excuse for any civilized nation to have kept his condition secret and denied him top notch medical care for so long.” “Even if you believe their explanation of botulism and a sleeping pill causing the coma — and we don’t — there is no excuse for any civilized nation to have kept his condition secret and denied him top notch medical care for so long,” he said.
Here in Wyoming, a close-knit city of 8,400 where the Warmbiers live on a private lane near a golf course, Mr. Warmbier’s release brought mixed feelings — relief that he is home, but also sadness over his medical condition. Every Sunday, the local churches have been praying for his safe return. Here in Wyoming, a close-knit city of 8,400 where the Warmbiers live on a private lane near a golf course, Otto Warmbier’s release brought mixed feelings — relief that he is home, but also sadness over his medical condition. Every Sunday, the local churches have been praying for his safe return.
“Now, we’ll pray for his health,” said Sherry Sheffield, the city’s unofficial historian.“Now, we’ll pray for his health,” said Sherry Sheffield, the city’s unofficial historian.
Tree trunks and telephone poles along Springfield Pike, the city’s main thoroughfare, were decorated with blue and white ribbons, the color of the local high school, in Mr. Warmbier’s honor. Residents planned to line the street in front of the high school, in a show of respect to family members as they left Thursday’s news conference.Tree trunks and telephone poles along Springfield Pike, the city’s main thoroughfare, were decorated with blue and white ribbons, the color of the local high school, in Mr. Warmbier’s honor. Residents planned to line the street in front of the high school, in a show of respect to family members as they left Thursday’s news conference.
Still, Ms. Sheffield said, many people have questions.Still, Ms. Sheffield said, many people have questions.
“What kind of tour company takes people to North Korea?” she asked.“What kind of tour company takes people to North Korea?” she asked.
For much of the 17 months that Mr. Warmbier was in North Korean custody, his parents maintained a public silence. A family friend, Michael Forsythe, said Wednesday that Otto’s situation was kind of like the ‘‘elephant in the room’’ — everyone here shared the Warmbier’s grief, but no one wanted to bring it up. For much of the 17 months that Mr. Warmbier was in North Korean custody, his parents maintained a public silence. A family friend, Michael Forsythe, said on Wednesday that the situation was kind of like the “elephant in the room” — everyone here shared the family’s grief, but no one wanted to bring it up.
Fred Warmbier said he and his wife had traveled to Washington a dozen times, and met with numerous officials, including John Kerry, as well as the Swedish ambassador to the United States, when Mr. Obama was president. Sweden has acted as an interlocutor between the United States and North Korea. Fred Warmbier said he and his wife had traveled to Washington a dozen times and met with numerous officials, including former Secretary of State John Kerry, as well as the Swedish ambassador to the United States, when Mr. Obama was president. Sweden has acted as an interlocutor between the United States and North Korea.
“We relied on this false premise that they would treat Otto fairly and let him go,” the father said.“We relied on this false premise that they would treat Otto fairly and let him go,” the father said.
But eventually, the couple concluded that their silence had done little or nothing. Last month, they spoke out on the Fox News program Fox & Friends, amid rising tensions between the United States and North Korea over the North’s nuclear weapons program. But eventually, the couple concluded that their silence had done little or nothing. Last month, they spoke out on the Fox News program “Fox and Friends,” amid rising tensions between the United States and North Korea over the North’s nuclear weapons program.
“Nothing Otto may or may not have done in North Korea rises to this level of punishment,” the father, Fred, said then. He added that he wanted his son to be “included in any dialogue or diplomacy with North Korea.” “Nothing Otto may or may not have done in North Korea rises to this level of punishment,” the father said then. He added that he wanted his son to be “included in any dialogue or diplomacy with North Korea.”
Last month, North Korean officials asked for an emergency meeting with their American counterparts in New York, which opened the door for Mr. Warmbier’s return. But the Warmbiers learned of their son’s grave medical condition only last week. The father said the family now feels liberated, unafraid to speak their minds. Last month, North Korean officials asked for an emergency meeting with their American counterparts in New York, which opened the door for Mr. Warmbier’s return. But the Warmbiers learned of their son’s grave medical condition only last week. The father said the family now felt liberated, unafraid to speak their minds.
The father’s criticism of the Obama administration’s failed efforts to bring his son home is likely to sting current and former officials who tried to improve the government response to these kinds of cases.
After several American hostages were beheaded in Syria in 2014, including a journalist James Foley, the families harshly criticized the White House for not doing more to save them. The government was accused of being cold and uncaring when it came to rescuing loved ones and criticized for failing to share information.
To better coordinate the government’s interaction with the families, President Obama in 2015 established an F.B.I.-led Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell and a special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, a position that remains unfilled under the current administration.
Since then, the government has had a mixed record of success. It has freed dozens of hostages held overseas but there has been little progress involving several high-profile case of people held in Iran, North Korea and Afghanistan.