US doctors dispute North Korean coma story

He was visiting North Korea with a tour group.

The U.S. government accuses North Korea of using such detainees as political pawns.

During a Thursday press conference, Otto Warmbier's father, Fred Warmbier, appealed to North Korea to release the three other Americans now imprisoned there.

"He shows no signs of understanding language", Dr. Daniel Kanter said, "or responding to verbal commands".

Diplomat Dennis Rodman, who is now in North Korea, declined to comment Tuesday on Warmbier's condition or that of three other Americans still being detained. The North Koreans claimed that the former University of Virginia student went into the coma after contracting botulism. Pyongyang has vowed to develop a nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missile capable of hitting the USA mainland.

While they don't know what caused the brain injury, Kanter said it could likely be the result of "cardio pulmonary arrest".

During the press conference Fred Warmbier revealed President Trump had called him the previous night: "It was a really nice conversation".

He is in stable condition, and "we're trying to make him comfortable", said Fred, but no further medical details were provided; doctors will hold a news conference of their own this afternoon.

Residents of the northern Cincinnati suburb tied blue-and-white ribbons, the school colors, to trees near the family home.

"I would like to highlight this morning the bittersweet feeling that my family has, relief that Otto is now home in the arms of those who love him and anger that he was so brutally treated for so long", he said.

"North Korea has proven they are not nature's noble men", said Fred Warmbier, acknowledging that he can now speak freely. The country said they released the college student on "humanitarian grounds".

Warmbier was released from a North Korean prison and returned home to suburban Cincinnati on Tuesday in a coma. Three Americans remain in custody in North Korea over accusations including alleged "hostile acts" and spying.

Fred Warmbier had some harsh words for North Korea in a news conference this morning in OH regarding the condition of his son, Otto. He says the administration is heartened Warmbier has been reunited with his family. The former basketball star's trip was a "distraction", he said.

His father, Fred Warmbier, wearing the same jacket his son wore to a North Korean courtroom, told reporters his family does not believe the North Korean regime's account of how his son fell into a coma shortly after being sentenced at a show trial in March 2016.