Donald Trump took aim at Kim Jong Un after offering his ‘deepest condolences to the family of Otto Warmbier following the 22-year-old’s death shortly after he was released from North Korea.
Donald Trump took aim at Kim Jong Un after offering his ‘deepest condolences to the family of Otto Warmbier following the 22-year-old’s death shortly after he was released from North Korea.
Warmbier was returned in a vegetative state to his family in Cincinnati, Ohio, on June 13 after spending 17 months in North Korea where he was arrested as a student for stealing a propaganda poster in January 2016.
‘Melania and I offer our deepest condolences to the family of Otto Warmbier on his untimely passing, ‘ a statement from the White House read.
‘There is nothing more tragic for a parent than to lose a child in the prime of life. Our thoughts and prayers are with Otto’s family and friends, and all who loved him.’
Scroll down for video
‘Otto’s fate deepens my Administration’s determination to prevent such tragedies from befalling innocent people at the hands of regimes that do not respect the rule of law or basic human decency.
‘The United States once again condemns the brutality of the North Korean regime as we mourn its latest victim.’
The White House statement was released just hours after the 22-year-old’s family confirmed his death.
Warmbier was unable to communicate when he returned home, having suffered serious brain loss during his time behind bars.
The Warmbiers entirely blamed Otto’s death on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his regime.
‘The awful torturous mistreatment our son received at the hands of North Koreans ensured that no other outcome was possible beyond the sad one we experienced today, ‘ Fred and Cindy Warmbier said in a statement.
Pyongyang said the 22-year-old was released on ‘humanitarian grounds’, and refused to say his treatment during his imprisonment was a factor in his shockingly deteriorated state.
Officials instead blamed his drastic state on a bout of food poisoning.
The family statement continued: ‘He looked very uncomfortable – almost anguished. Although we would never hear his voice again, within a day the countenance on his face changed – he was at peace. He was home and we believe he could sense that.
‘We thank everyone around the world who has kept him and our family in their thoughts and prayers.
‘We are at peace and at home too.’
Otto was a student at the University of Virginia when he traveled in a group to Pyongyang.
As he attempted to leave the country to return home on January 2, he was arrested and detained at the airport.
North Korean authorities accused him of committing a hostile act against the country by stealing a propaganda poster from the hotel he was staying in.
He was kept there after giving a tearful press conference and was not seen again until last week when he was carried off a private medical plane upon his return to the US.
