North Korea releases imprisoned American student

He is in a coma for unexplained reasons.

Otto Warmbier speaks at a news conference in North Korea, in 2016.

The uncertainty over Warmbier's condition and treatment in detention speaks to the opacity of North Korea's justice system.

Warmbier was detained in January 2016 and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in March last year for trying to steal an item with a propaganda slogan, according to North Korean media. The State Department says this was the first time the United States was able to confirm the status of the student since he was sentenced to hard labor as a result of what North Korea deemed "anti-state acts".

"Otto has been in a coma for over a year now and urgently needs proper medical care in the United States", said Richardson, who has previously served as a special envoy to North Korea and still works on prisoner issues. "We learned of this only one week ago", they said in a statement.

That does not mean that there is no role for Mr. Rodman to play in helping to improve communications between his friend Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump. He has been roundly criticized for visiting during a time of high tensions between the US and North Korea over its weapons programs. Yun demanded his release and North Korea complied on Tuesday, according to the State Department.

"While the entire University of Virginia community is relieved to learn of Otto's release from North Korea, we are deeply concerned and saddened to learn from his family that he is in a coma", university president Teresa Sullivan said in a statement.

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert has declined to provide details on the circumstance of Warmbier's release or comment on his health condition.

She was feeling "sick to my stomach for them", she said, thinking of how their son should have been graduating from college this spring. "But I am not going to characterize what their son may have been through or may not have been through, so I'm just going to have to refer you to the family right now".

The curious timing of Warmbier's return to Cincinnati is nearly as startling as Rodman's continued flirtation with Kim and his Communist regime.

The State Department denied any connection between Warmbier's release and Rodman's visit, which the Trump administration said it did not authorise.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family as they continue to battle for Otto's life". "We strongly, strongly suggest that Americans do not go to North Korea". Sweden represents USA diplomatic interests in North Korea.

Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, called Warmbier's arrest and trial "unnecessary and appalling", while lawmakers from Virginia also denounced North Korea's actions.

He, added: "North Korea should be universally condemned for its abhorrent behaviour". Of Otto's parents, Cynthia and Fred Warmbier, he said: 'I can't even begin to put myself in their shoes'.

Seoul said last month that it will flexibly resume civilian inter-Korean exchanges to an extent that the move does not compromise the global sanctions regime.

Donald Trump said early in his campaign for the presidency that he takes North Korea's hereditary ruler, 33-year-old Kim Jong-un, quite seriously because of his nuclear weapons, and is willing to talk with him about the crisis in U.S.

The State Department advises "strongly" against visits by USA citizens to North Korea, noting that at least 16 Americans have been detained there over the last decade.

FILE - In this December 20, 2013, file photo, former NBA basketball star Dennis Rodman, center, watches from courtside during a practice session for North Korean basketball players in Pyongyang, North Korea.