Sen. John McCain said Tuesday that Americans who are « stupid » enough to still want to travel to North Korea should be required to sign a waiver absolving the U. S. government of any blame…
WASHINGTON (AP) – Sen. John McCain said Tuesday that Americans who are « stupid » enough to still want to travel to North Korea should be required to sign a waiver absolving the U. S. government of any blame should they be harmed while there. McCain, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said North Korea « murdered » Otto Warmbier, the 22-year-old American college student who died just days after North Korea released him from detention in a coma. He had arrived in Ohio on June 13 after being held for more than 17 months. « They just murdered him, » McCain said. The University of Virginia student was accused of trying to steal a propaganda banner while visiting with a tour group and was convicted of subversion. He was sentenced in March 2016 to 15 years in prison with hard labor. « There should at least be a form for them to fill out that says, ‘If I go to North Korea, I understand I am taking great risk and I do not hold the American government responsible. Now I hope the American government will help, etc., etc. But I realize what has happened to previous American citizens, including their deaths, ‘ » McCain, R-Ariz., said in a brief interview. « I would have that first because if people are that stupid that they still want to go to that country then at least they assume the responsibility for their welfare, » McCain said. Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, the Republican chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, said the U. S. should think about banning U. S. citizens from visiting North Korea. « I think we should strongly consider it, » Corker said. « It puts us in a really precarious situation when Americans are detained there. » The United States, South Korea and others have accused North Korea of using foreign detainees has hostages to secure diplomatic concessions. Three Americans remain in custody in the North. « It’s unsafe, » Corker said, adding that the « trumped up charges » like those Warmbier was accused of « can continue to happen. » ___ Contact Richard Lardner on Twitter: Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
