President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Warmbier's death after his lengthy detention in North Korea was a "total disgrace" and that if the college student had been returned home to the us earlier, "I think the result would have been a lot different".
The family of American college student Otto Warmbier said the 22-year-old died Monday, days after his release from North Korea.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) described Warmbier's death as "murder" but called on Americans "stupid" enough to travel to North Korea to sign a waiver not to hold the United States responsible if something happens to them.
The University of Virginia student was accused of trying to steal a propaganda banner while visiting with a tour group.
Doctors caring for him last week described him as having extensive brain damage that left him in a state of "unresponsive wakefulness".
"In regards to the president's view of North Korea, I believe he represents the American people's view of North Korea right now", Mattis said of Mr. Trump.
Discussing Warmbier's death with reporters on a conference call on Tuesday, Portman paused and acknowledged he was broken up.
North Korea said last month that it was its sovereign right to "ruthlessly punish" USA citizens it had detained for crimes against the state.
The death of Otto Warmbier escalates North Korea situation
The death of an American college student after his imprisonment in North Korea is threatening to overshadow the talks at the State Department.
Trump called the situation a "disgrace" and is now facing calls for the USA to respond to North Korea for its role in Warmbier's death.
The next nuclear test occurred in 2013, and was more than twice as powerful as the last blast, clocking in at around six to seven kilotons according to the South Korean government. He took two doctors with him this month to North Korea to bring Warmbier home. He was detained in the country for allegedly stealing a political poster and eventually sentenced to 15 years hard labour. He called North Korea a "brutal regime".
Otto Warmbier's death after returning from North Korean imprisonment is stoking outrage in Washington and threatening to overshadow high-level U.S. -China Diplomatic and Security Dialogue in Washington. Fred Warmbier said Trump, who was "very candid" during the telephone call, told him Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and other us officials worked hard to negotiate his son's release.
Why? To make a political point, to show the US that this is what you get if you mess with North Korea.
In a Tweet, Trump said, "While I greatly appreciate the efforts of President Xi & China to help with North Korea, it has not worked out".
The circumstances of his detention in North Korea and what medical treatment he may have received there remained a mystery, but relatives have said his condition suggested that he had been physically abused by his captors.
"And we've had I think positive movement on China over the past five months of this administration".
Mr Warmbier's family, meanwhile, says they are choosing to focus on the short time they had with their son, ahead of his funeral on Thursday.
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