USA TODAY US Edition

North Korea welcomes Rodman, then frees American student

Ohio native served 18 months of 15-year sentence

- Deirdre Shesgreen and Oren Dorell USA TODAY

Former NBA star Dennis Rodman arrives at Pyongyang Sunan Internatio­nal Airport in the capital city Tuesday, saying he is “just trying to open a door” on his latest trip to the nation. Hours later, North Korea released Otto Warmbier, 22, an American student who had been held more than 17 months for “anti-state acts” and has been in a coma for more than a year. The U.S. said Rodman had nothing to do with Warmbier’s release.

An American college student imprisoned by North Korea and in a coma for more than a year was freed Tuesday and is on his way home to Cincinnati.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson announced that North Korea released Otto Warmbier, 22, a University of Virginia student, who was serving a 15-year sentence for alleged anti-state acts. His parents, Fred and Cindy Warmbier, said their son has been in a coma since March 2016. “We learned of this only one week ago,” they said in a statement.

Tillerson said the State Department secured Warmbier’s release at the direction of President Trump. The announceme­nt came shortly after former NBA player Dennis Rodman arrived in Pyongyang for a return visit to North Korea. But Rodman, who has visited with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said the issue of four Americans detained by the North is “not my purpose right now.”

State Department spokeswoma­n Heather Nauert later said Rodman “had nothing to do with” Warmbier’s release.

Earlier Tuesday, Fred Warmbier told The Cincinnati Enquirer that the family will hold a news conference later this week in Cincinnati.

Nauert said the U.S. is pleased that Warmbier is headed home, but she would not say anything about his health because of privacy concerns.

She said U.S. officials had a difficult time getting informatio­n about Warmbier from North Korea. The U.S. does not have diplomatic relations with the reclusive country and works through Sweden to deal with North Korean officials. U.S. officials last had consular access to Warmbier on March 2, 2016, through the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang, Nauert said.

Former United Nations ambassador Bill Richardson, who has been trying to help secure Warmbier’s release, said North Korea’s health system is “very primitive,” and the circumstan­ces surroundin­g the student’s condition are murky.

“This is a matter of grave concern,” Richardson said. “How did he fall into a coma? And why was this not disclosed?”

Sen. Rob Portman, R- Ohio, confirmed the release but did not comment on Warmbier’s health.

“Fred, Cindy and the Warmbier family have been remarkably strong throughout this ordeal. Over the last 18 months, they have had to endure more than any family should have to bear,” Portman said in a statement.

The Warmbiers have been pressing for their son’s release.

“I want my kid home. He doesn’t deserve this,” Fred Warmbier told The Cincinnati Enquirer last month.

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia di- rector at Human Rights Watch, said, “It’s clear that Pyongyang has committed a grave injustice against Otto and his family, and the news that he may be returning with a serious medical problem raises concerns about what happened to him in North Korean custody.”

During their son’s 18-month incarcerat­ion, the Warmbiers heard from their son only once — a letter on March 2, 2016. He noted that North Koreans refused to let Swedish officials visit or contact him for more than a year.

“Since March 2, no one has seen or heard from Otto. No one,” Fred Warmbier said.

Tillerson said the State Department is still working on the release of the three other U.S. citizens detained in North Korea.

“We strongly suggest that Americans do not go to North Korea,” Nauert said.

Warmbier was a University of Virginia undergradu­ate when he decided to go to North Korea with a tour. He was detained as the tour group prepared to leave the country. In a televised trial, he was sentenced in March 2016 to 15 years in prison with hard labor as he confessed to trying to steal a propaganda banner.

 ?? KIM KWANG HYON, AP ??
KIM KWANG HYON, AP
 ?? KIM KWANG HYON, AP ?? American college student Otto Warmbier speaks to reporters in Pyongyang, North Korea, last year. He was freed Tuesday.
KIM KWANG HYON, AP American college student Otto Warmbier speaks to reporters in Pyongyang, North Korea, last year. He was freed Tuesday.

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