Parents of Ohio student speak out against North Korea

Image
AP Cincinnati
Last Updated : Sep 26 2017 | 9:07 PM IST
The parents of a young Ohioan who was detained in North Korea for more than a year and died soon after being released said today he was "jerking violently," howling, and "staring blankly" when he returned home on a medical flight.
Fred and Cindy Warmbier appeared on Fox News' "Fox & Friends" morning TV show amid an escalating war of words between the Trump administration and North Korea. A North Korean official has claimed President Donald Trump has, in effect, declared war, which the White House denied.
Otto Warmbier's father said they wanted to speak out about his condition after hearing North Korea claiming to be a victim that's being picked on.
"North Korea is not a victim. They're terrorists," he said. "They kidnapped Otto. They tortured him. They intentionally injured him. They are not victims."
The parents described the condition his family found him in when they went aboard an air ambulance that arrived June 13 in Cincinnati.
They said Warmbier, a 22-year-old University of Virginia student, was howling, making an "involuntary, inhuman sound," ''staring blankly into space jerking violently," and was blind and deaf with his head shaved. Fred Warmbier said his mouth "looked like someone had taken a pair of pliers and rearranged his bottom teeth."
Fred Warmbier said Otto's mother and sister ran off the plane at the initial sight of him.
"We weren't prepared ... no mother, no parent should ever have gone through what we went through," Cindy Warmbier said. She said it was "inexcusable" that her son had been alone in captivity for so long with no one to comfort him. She said she "got it together" and stayed with him after his arrival.
President Trump tweeted about the family's appearance, calling it "a great interview" and that: "Otto was tortured beyond belief by North Korea."
Fred Warmbier also said Otto had a large scar on his right foot and a high fever.
He died less than a week after returning at University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Doctors there said he arrived in a state of "unresponsive wakefulness" and had suffered a "severe neurological injury" of uncertain cause.
North Korea has denied mistreating the youth, sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in March 2016 for allegedly stealing a propaganda poster. He was arrested that January as he prepared to leave the country after visiting as a tourist.

Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Sep 26 2017 | 9:07 PM IST

Next Story