American college student Otto Frederick Warmbier has been released by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) after more than a year of imprisonment, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Tuesday. His family said they found out last week that the 22-year-old has been in a coma since shortly after his trial in March last year for alleged anti-state acts. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison with hard labor for subversion after he tearfully confessed that he had tried to steal a propaganda banner. The then-21-year-old student was accused of trying to steal propaganda signage from a restricted area in his hotel and convicted of committing "hostile acts" toward the regime of Kim Jong Un. Some media reports said the North Koreans suggested Otto had come down with a case of botulism and fell into a coma after being given a sleeping pill.
"At the direction of the president, the Department of State has secured the release of Otto Warmbier from North Korea".
In Seoul, South Korea, U.S. Undersecretary of State Thomas Shannon said "we pray for him and we pray for his family".
Three Korean-Americans are now believed to be held in North Korea, and Tillerson said Tuesday the State Department was continuing discussions with the North Koreans about them.
Warmbier was a University of Virginia student when he made a decision to go to North Korea with a tour group.
Warmbier's parents said in a statement to The Associated Press that they had learned only a week ago that their son has been in a coma since March 2016.
"Well, I'm pretty sure he's pretty much happy with the fact that I'm over here trying to accomplish something that we both need", Rodman said.
We learn from this that the Trump administration has standard diplomatic channels to North Korea, and that the North Korean government uses those channels and wants to keep lines open by making appropriate humanitarian gestures like the repatriation of Mr. Warmbier.
Former NBA star Dennis Rodman has been one of the United States' most unlikely links to North Korea, traveling repeatedly to the authoritarian state and gaining rare access to its leadership. Governments from around the world also looked down upon the North Korean court's decision. He has been roundly criticized for visiting during a time of high tensions between the USA and North Korea over its weapons programs. "Everybody feels a sense of relief that he is coming back to the United States", said Amy Mayer. "Since we also have our citizens detained in the North. we are putting pressure on the North to free them through various channels", he said, vowing "utmost efforts". In 2013, ahead of his first trip, I wrote a tipsheet for Rodman on the vile record of the North Korean regime.
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"The UVA family will continue to keep the Warmbiers in our thoughts and prayers as Otto returns to the United States and his home where he will receive the care and support of those who love him", university President Teresa Sullivan said in a statement Tuesday.
NEW YORK-PotCoin, a crypto currency for the legalized cannabis industry, jumped in value on Tuesday after ex-basketball star Dennis Rodman arrived in North Korea wearing a t-shirt and baseball cap emblazoned with the digital payment system's logo.
A hospital spokeswoman said Warmbier's family was expected to hold a news conference Thursday morning at Wyoming High School.
A statement from Otto's mum and dad, Fred and Cindy, hit out the Hermit Kingdom.
"During his time in our country, US citizen Kim Sang Duk attempted to overthrow the state, a hostile crime".
Republican Sen. Rob Portman says North Korea should be "universally condemned for its abhorrent behavior".
However, before his arrival in Pyongyang, Rodman told reporters that pleading to free detained Americans is not the goal of his visit right now.
North Korea still has at least three Americans in illegal custody, no doubt enduring horrific conditions in violation of all norms of human decency.
After North Korea conducted several ballistic missile tests earlier this year, Trump has made it clear he would put an end to what he called Obama's "strategic patience".
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