North Korea’s state-run KCNA news agency said the tourist was a Virginia University student and had gone to the country with the aim of “destroying the country’s unity”.
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A friend and former high-school classmate of Warmbier, who wished to remain anonymous, told Reuters: “Otto is a wonderful, warm person who should never have to go through anything like this….”
In a statement, the U.S. State Department said that Blinken and Chinese Executive Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui held “frank, constructive discussions on topics of mutual interest, including the response to North Korea’s recent nuclear test and maritime issues”.
(Stand-up) “President Park said that the basic solution for North Korea’s nuclear issues is reunification of the two Koreas and that Seoul will work with “consistency” and “effectiveness” in approaching Pyongyang”.
Warmbier was on the dean’s list at the University of Virginia, CNN affiliate WCPO-TV reported.
Warmbier traveled to the isolated Asian country with a China-based tourism company called Young Pioneers. We are also assisting the U.S Department of State closely with regards to the situation.
This is a developing story.
North Korean authorities have not provided details of the act allegedly committed, or of Warmbier’s current whereabouts. The university said it has been in touch with Warmbier’s family.
Earlier this month, CNN reported North Korea had detained another USA citizen on suspicion of spying.
The timing of Warmbier’s detention could also be significant, as North Korea may be seeking leverage under the threat of heavy sanctions for its fourth ever nuclear test earlier this month.
“But even if the talks open but don’t help de-nuclearise North Korea, the question of being effective will be brought up”, she said.
In 2014, three Americans being detained by North Korea (Matthew Todd Miller, Kenneth Bae and Jeffrey Fowle) were released unharmed. On occasion, North Korea has previously touted the arrests of foreigners in times of tension with the West in a thinly veiled attempt to gain concessions.
Fowle said in 2014 he had left a Bible in a North Korean nightclub in hopes it would reach underground Christians.
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The other is Lim Hyeon-soo, a 60-year-old South Korea-born pastor from Toronto, who has been convicted of committing “activities against” North Korea and sentenced to life serving hard labor.
