US university student arrested in North Korea for ‘committing hostile act’

A US university student has been arrested in North Korea on suspicion of committing a hostile act against the state. Otto Frederick Warmbier was visiting as a tourist but was plotting to destroy the country’s unity, it is being alleged. The University of Virginia student had links to the US government and his alleged act was “tolerated and manipulated” by the US, Pyongyang said.

We are in touch with Otto’s family, the US State Department and the Embassy of Sweden in Pyongyang and doing all we can to secure his release.

Gareth Johnson, Young Pioneer Tours

China-based Young Pioneer Tours confirmed Mr Warmbier was on one of its trips and said he had been detained in North Korea on January 2. If confirmed, the student would be the third Western citizen held in North Korea. South Korean-born Canadian pastor Hyeon Soo Lim was sentenced last month to hard labour for life. It also comes as America investigates reports of another of its citizen being held by the secretive state. Two weeks ago, an American who identified himself as Kim Dong Chul said he was being held on espionage charges.

I’m asking the US or South Korean government to rescue me.

Kim Dong Chul

Asia-Pacific