Liberated at a greater price…

Otto Warmbier, the American student who had been detained by North Korea and then released on humanitarian grounds, has died. According to his family, he passed away on 19^th June, 2017 at 2:20 pm (18:20 GMT), Cincinnati hospital.

Warmbier, had been detained by the North Korean government for 17 months, was returned to his country on June 13^th, on account of severe medical issues. Upon medical evacuation, it was found that he was unable to see, speak or react to any verbal commands.

Background

Warmbier was detained on January 2^nd 2016, for attempting to steal a propaganda poster on a five-day tour to North Korea. At the time he was arrested by the North Korean government on grounds of committing ‘hostile acts against the state.’

On accounts of the charges being filed against him, Warmbier reportedly delivered a confession in March 2016 after a trial. He was then sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment and has not been seen or heard since.

Warmbier’s release came after United States Department’s special envoy, Mr. Joseph Yun travelled to North Korea’s capital, Pyongyang to demand his release based on humanitarian grounds.

Analysis

The Cincinnati medical centre, where he received treatment, stated that he suffered from injuries relating to cardiopulmonary arrest and was in state of ‘unresponsive wakefulness.’

North Korea told the US that Warmbier, soon after his trial in March 2016, had contracted ‘botulism’ and then fell into coma, after taking a sleeping pill; an explanation that seemed to have made doctors skeptic. The team of doctors that treated Otto found no evidence of botulism. In fact, Otto was found to have suffered ‘severe neurological injury’ of an unknown cause.

The US President, Donald Trump has conveyed his condolences to the Warmbier family while also stating that the tragedy has intensified the administration’s efforts to prevent such situations from happening in future. Spokesperson for the United States Department, Heather Nauert has noted previously, after the immediate release of Otto Warmbier that the US was grateful for his release but also warned against travelling to North Korea as the US has no diplomatic ties in the region.

Assessment

This comes against a backdrop of escalating tensions between the United States and North Korea. Currently, there are three other American citizens detained by the North Korean government but the chances of their release remains slim. North Korea, on its part, is enthusiastically working on its efforts to build a nuclear arsenal to deter US.

America has been pushing China to impose a tighter grip over North Korea’s nuclear activities.

Most officials have called for North Korea to be universally condemned for what’s being perceived as deliberate inhuman torture. Meanwhile, ‘Young Poineer Tours’, the travel company that took Warmbier to North Korea has confirmed that it will no longer allow for US citizens to travel to North Korea.

Our assessment is that this incident will further cause the deterioration of the already fraught ties between North Korea and the United States. With the torture and death of Otto Warmbier, relations between the two countries are expected to continue being confrontational and turbulent.