North Korea presents detained American to media

[webfact]

North Korea presents detained American to media
Associated Press

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) — North Korea has presented a detained American student before media in Pyongyang.

The student, Otto Warmbier, acknowledged and apologized in a conference attended by the media and some members of the diplomatic community on Monday for stealing a political slogan from a staff-only section of the hotel where he had been staying. Pyongyang calls that an anti-state crime. He said he took it as a trophy for a church that offered to pay him for it.

North Korea announced late last month that it had arrested the 21-year-old University of Virginia undergraduate student. It said that after entering the country as a tourist he conducted an anti-state crime with "the tacit connivance of the U.S. government and under its manipulation."

Former detainees often recant such admissions after their release.

-- (c) Associated Press 2016-02-29

[Hayduke]

The ever-vigilant North Koreans announced some two months ago they had a US 'criminal' for sale.

The press conference/'confession' is to display the product and confirm that he's in marketable condition.

Kidnapping for ransom is a familiar item in the Kim-ster's bag of tricks.

It's worked before and will probably work again.

Edited February 29, 2016 by Hayduke

[rosst]

The ever-vigilant North Koreans announced some two months ago they had a US 'criminal' for sale.

The press conference/'confession' is to display the product and confirm that he's in marketable condition.

Kidnapping for ransom is a familiar item in the Kim-ster's bag of tricks.

It's worked before and will probably work again.

University educated, went there and committed said crime, not very smart, zero sympathy, stupid is as supid does.

[Sydebolle]

Well, with a name like "Warmbier" it is pretty clear, which "church" he usually uses for worshipping. Having said that, the story must be a hoax as said religion would not trigger off nor pay for such "helpings".

He is just another nutty and maybe Kim Jong un does us all the honour and keeps the boy as a guest of the North Korean hospitality for some time. Mr. Warmbier will have plenty of time to rethink his story and might possibly learn basics in manners as a guest. Not clear though is how he was given a visa (the North Koreans are not too hot on the Americans); nor if he is at all allowed to travel to North Korea by law of his home turf; I remember that trips to Cuba were not only forbidden but you would get a nice penalty for such ideas.

Quite obviously the media has a difficult day today if they have to publish such irrelevancies

[little mary sunshine]

Really dumb stunt....College Student?? "Now you

Know you're not in Kansas any more, Dorothy"

[sanukjim]

If one has the opportunity to escape a dictatorship and become a citizen of another country,WHY GO BACK ?

[Jeremy50]

Not really human these people. And what is it with those stupid big hats?

[mango66]

The ever-vigilant North Koreans announced some two months ago they had a US 'criminal' for sale.

The press conference/'confession' is to display the product and confirm that he's in marketable condition.

Kidnapping for ransom is a familiar item in the Kim-ster's bag of tricks.

It's worked before and will probably work again.

University educated, went there and committed said crime, not very smart, zero sympathy, stupid is as supid does.

agree !

Stupid - not student !!

what he did search there ??

Let him learn the country - 10 years in an agriculture cooperate !!

[arunsakda]

This young man has been socialized from a very early age that even though actions have consequences his will always be given the benefit of the doubt and will result in a "slap on the wrist". The experience of people of color in the US is quite different and though those who wear the cloak of white privlege are the first to deny it's existence it does not change these facts. In so many other cases in the US where people of colour are even outright killed by the police in the street, even as as a result of minor disturbances or actions they are blamed that they should have "co-operated", not sold loose cigarettes etc. Authority and it's agents are never at fault, of course.

Where is the outrage from the US media and netizens that the young man should have just "followed the law"?

The US Dept of State advises against all travel to N. Korea. The kid goes anyway. He violates the "law" of the DPRK. (i.e. whatever whim is used by the dictators there to take foreign hostages and sentence them to staggering jail terms) Then the N. Koreans pull their stupid tired game where they get some high ranking US official to come collect them. My prediction is sometime early next year they will demand Obama fly to Pyongyang to grovel for his release and maybe the "spy" they captured.

These US citizens who travel to North Korea on minded tours are stupid. They are being constantly monitored for any transgression that can serve as a pretense for them to be prosecuted. I know one guy who went with his wife, the type that has to travel everywhere just to say he did. (He also went skiing in Iran, not so stupid).

Edited March 27, 2016 by arunsakda

[AhFarangJa]

Some people are naturally stupid, but he abuses the privilege. What person in their right mind would even contemplate going to North Korea?

I think the best place for him is to stay there for a while, at least there will be a responsible adult to watch over him, something obviously lacking from wherever he originated from.