Trump lays the blame for US student’s death with Obama

PRESIDENT Donald Trump has said efforts by China to rein in North Korea have “not worked”, signalling he may take a more aggressive approach to counter the country’s nuclear ambitions.

Mr Trump also appeared to blame Barack Obama over the fate of Otto Warmbier, 22, the US student who died after being imprisoned in North Korea.

The tour agency that brought Mr Warmbier to North Korea said it would stop taking Americans there.

Young Pioneer Tours had previously described North Korea as “probably one of the safest places on Earth to visit”. However, the agency now say the “risk for Americans visiting North Korea has become too high”.

Mr Trump had previously praised the efforts of Chinese president Xi Jinping to put pressure on North Korea after the two met in April.

But after the death of Mr Warmbier he said: “While I greatly appreciate the efforts of President Xi and China to help with North Korea, it has not worked out. At least I know China tried!”

Mr Warmbier had been sentenced to 15 years hard labour after he tried to steal a propaganda banner. He was returned to the US last week in a coma and died days later.

Mr Trump said: “It’s a total disgrace what happened to Otto. It should never, ever be allowed to happen.”

Mr Obama’s spokesman Ned Price said: “During the course of the Obama administration we had no higher priority than securing the release of Americans detained overseas.”

Asked if Mr Trump was blaming Mr Obama, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said: “... had it happened sooner and quicker, potentially there might have been additional medical resources that could have been provided.”