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NK hostage released but in a coma...

This isn't good. NK hostage released but in a coma.

Maybe Dennis Rodman can find out what hate holes he's in NK.

Otto Warmbier, jailed US student, in coma after being freed by North Korea | Fox News

Otto Warmbier, the college student arrested, tried and imprisoned in North Korea for more than a year for trying to swipe a souvenir from a hotel, has been released but is in a coma, according to multiple sources.

The 22-year-old Warmbier has served just over a year of his 15-year sentence -- allegedly for taking down a sign of the late dictator Kim Jong Il while Warmbier was in the country with a tour group. As of Tuesday morning, Warmbier was on his way home to Cincinnati, although other details surrounding the dramatic events were not released.

"At the direction of the president, the Department of State has secured the release of Otto Warmbier from North Korea," Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said. "Mr. Warmbier is en route to the United States, where he will be reunited with his family. The Department of State continues to have discussions with the DPRK regarding three other U.S. citizens reported detained. Out of respect for the privacy of Mr. Warmbier and his family, we have no further comment on Mr. Warmbier."

Warmbier's parents, who have appeared on Fox News Channel in the past to plead for their son's release, expressed somber gratitude.

“Our son is coming home.”

- Fred Warmbier
“Our son is coming home,” Fred Warmbier told The Washington Post Tuesday morning, after his son had been evacuated from North Korea. “At the moment, we’re just treating this like he’s been in an accident. We get to see our son Otto tonight.”

Warmbier's exact condition was not known, but his parents said they were told that he had gotten botulism soon after his trial and had been given a sleeping pill, from which he never woke up. State Department officials were unable to confirm this.

Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who has worked for Warmbier's release with his Center for Global Engagement, said Warmbier has been in a coma for more than a year.

“Otto has been in a coma for over a year now and urgently needs proper medical care in the United States,” Richardson said in a statement obtained by Fox News. “We received a call from Cindy and Fred Warmbier early today to update us on Otto’s condition. In no uncertain terms North Korea must explain the causes of his coma.”

The U.S. has no diplomatic relations in North Korea. Foreigners who have been detained or imprisoned in the Hermit Kingdom often have a shared experience: confusion, coached confessions, communication blackouts and isolation.

Warmbier was detained on Jan. 2, 2016, at Pyongyang International Airport, while visiting the country as a tourist with Young Pioneer Tour. He was charged with stealing the sign from a staff-only floor in the Yanggakdo International Hotel in Pyongyang and committing “crimes against the state.” He was given a one-hour trial in March 2016, when the government presented fingerprints, CCTV footage and pictures of a political banner to make its case against the American student.

“I beg that you see how I am only human,” Warmbier said at his trial. “And how I have made the biggest mistake of my life.”

Despite his pleas, the college student was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor. In a post-trial video released to the world, Warmbier, under obvious duress, praised his captors for his treatment and for handling of the case “fair and square."

Warmbier's release leaves three U.S. citizens currently known to be held in North Korea: accounting professor Kim Sang Duk, businessman Kim Dong Chul and Kim Hak-Song, who worked at Pyongyang University.

AMERICANS RELEASED FROM NORTH KOREAN CAPTIVITY BACK ON US SOIL

In the past, North Korea has generally quickly released any American citizens it detained – waiting at most for a U.S. official or statesman to come and to personally bail out detainees. But that appears to be changing.

Early in the dictatorship of Kim Jong Un, North Korea called on its people to rally behind him and protect him as "human shields." But with the U.S. leading a growing international coalition determined to counter North Korea's nuclear and missile testing as well as threats against neightbors and Western countries, the Americans could be bargaining chips at best and human shields at worst, according to experts.

Warmbier's release comes amid simmering tensions between the U.S. and North Korea, largely owing to Pyongyang's continued testing of nuclear-capable missiles.

Former NBA star Dennis Rodman, a self-described friend of Kim Jong Un, recently landed in North Korea on a non-U.S.-sanctioned mission he said was aimed at promoting sports in the isolated nation.

In a coma since March 2016 from contracting botulism???

Yes, In a coma for a long time but not likely from botulism. Best guess is that he either quit breathing or had a cardiac arrest for long enough to kill off a large amount of his brain tissue. Significant brain damage, very unlikely to recover.

A very sad thing and I hope the crazy little fat guy over there pays for it one of these days in a personal way.

JR

Quote:

Originally Posted by javadog (Post 9627807)

Agree with ya, and feel so sorry for the victim and his family. Here's the thing, what the hell was he thinking? You just don't do those thing in a country like that. This kind of siht is no joke, you will be put away for a long time. There is no right or wrong, its the law, their law. No trial, nothing, and you are done. We forget that this is not the US or Germany

I heard that there is video of him stealing something. Eh?

He was accused of trying to steal a poster from his hotel room. I've also heard accounts that all he did was touch it, and then there are accounts that said he didn't do anything at all. There's no telling with the *******s in the government of North Korea. Whatever he did, it wasn't worth 15 years. There's no telling how he got to the point that he is in today, but it wasn't probably what they said that happened.

I don't know why anybody would go anywhere near North Korea.

JR

Quote:

Originally Posted by javadog (Post 9627932)

\

I don't know why anybody wouldn't go anywhere near North Korea.

JR

Exactly. My take is that if you go to N. Korea, then you pretty much have given up your life anyway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusnak (Post 9627983)

Exactly. My take is that if you go to N. Korea, then you pretty much have given up your life anyway.

Its like these young American or Canadian women that go over to the those backward middle east countries and try to impose western ways, ideas or women's right and they get hurt, capture or whatever they do to them. They are asking for it. You just don't say anything about their political system or their leadership. It happened in China, Russia, and its aint gonna to change. The King comes through your village, you kneel. No right or wrong. Its just the way it is. I really think people just don't know how to keep their mouth shut for their own good. They have it too damn good in the free world.

Quote:

Originally Posted by look 171 (Post 9627994)

I'm not even a woman, and I would not go to the ME. I say to Mr. Motion that I'm happy enough living vicariously through his posts. One of my cashiers wanted to go visit Mexico by herself and her two infant boys. I told her to go visit Porterville, CA because it's just like Mexico, but without all the messy kidnapping, raping and killing part.

Quote:

Originally Posted by look 171 (Post 9627868)

Agree with ya, and feel so sorry for the victim and his family.

That. I feel sorry for the parents and family that they are having to go through this.

Quote:

Here's the thing, what the hell was he thinking? You just don't do those thing in a country like that. This kind of siht is no joke, you will be put away for a long time. There is no right or wrong, its the law, their law. No trial, nothing, and you are done. We forget that this is not the US or Germany

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusnak (Post 9627983)

Exactly. My take is that if you go to N. Korea, then you pretty much have given up your life anyway.

^ +6.02E23

If you aren't North Korean or wanting to defect to NK, then you're a moron for voluntarily going there in the first place. If you go there, then don't do crap other than exactly what you are allowed to do.

A college kid in NK, yeah, I have no doubt that he tried to screw with or likely steal the poster. In that case, he got himself into this.

I heard that the parents, when asked if they thought the previous POTUS admin had done enough to try to get their kid back said something like "the results speak for themselves". I think this is total BS. Hey, your kid did 2 REALLY stupid things. Now you want the POTUS and country to bail his ass out? Sometimes, you just have to pay the consequences.

I think they more than paid the consequences. The Obama admin did nothing. Nothing. Told them not to put ribbons on trees. Told them to keep quiet and lay low and do nothing. That's it. Obamas administration simply wanted to avoid involvement. As such their son is now in an unrecoverable coma.

The Trump administration took it seriously and helped these people in a matter of weeks. Yes, the results speak for themselves.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocaholic (Post 9628181)

Trying to keep this from being too PARFy, but I'm pretty sure the Fed Govt strongly recommends against going to North Korea.
https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/north-korea-travel-warning.html

We've all heard about the various folks that have gone there and been detained for whatever reason. Don't go to NK. And if you do, and you get into trouble, don't expect anyone elso to bail your ass out.

This is kind of like going to Yellowstone, and falling in a geyser pool and then complaining that the park folks didn't do anything. They put up walkways and repeatedly tell you to stay on them. Some moron just fell into one the other day and went to the hospital after being scalded. I guess that's better than the guy that fell into one and died last year. It was dark so they didn't retrieve his body at night. By the next day, the body had dissolved.

You just can't fix stupid. (not you Choco, the kid)

Text of the warning. Various emphasis added by me.

Quote:

The Department of State strongly warns U.S. citizens not to travel to North Korea/the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The Department of State strongly warns U.S. citizens not to travel to North Korea/the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). U.S. citizens in the DPRK are at serious risk of arrest and long-term detention under North Korea’s system of law enforcement. This system imposes unduly harsh sentences for actions that would not be considered crimes in the United States and threatens U.S. citizen detainees with being treated in accordance with “wartime law of the DPRK.” Since the United States does not maintain diplomatic or consular relations with North Korea, the U.S. government has no means to provide normal consular services to U.S. citizens in North Korea. This notice updates the number of U.S. citizens who have been detained in North Korea and replaces the Travel Warning dated February 7, 2017.

At least 16 U.S. citizens have been detained in North Korea in the past ten years. North Korean authorities have detained those who traveled independently and those who were part of organized tours. Being a member of a group tour or using a tour guide will not prevent North Korean authorities from detaining or arresting you. Efforts by private tour operators to prevent or resolve past detentions of U.S. citizens in the DPRK have not been successful.

If you decide to enter North Korea against the advice of this Travel Warning, you should have no expectation of privacy. All electronic and multimedia devices including USB drives, CDs, DVDs, mobile phones, tablets, laptops, Internet browsing histories, and cookies are subject to search for banned content.

If DPRK authorities permit you to keep your mobile phone when you enter the country, it will not function unless you use the DPRK mobile service, which will enable DPRK authorities to monitor your calls. GPS-trackers and satellite phones are not allowed.

Possession of any media, either physical or electronic, that is critical of the DPRK government or its leaders is considered a criminal act punishable by long-term detention in hard labor camps and heavy fines.

In North Korea, the following – whether done knowingly or unknowingly – have been treated as crimes:

Showing disrespect to the country’s former leaders, Kim Il Sung or Kim Jong Il, or for the country’s current leader, Kim Jong Un, including but not limited to tampering with or mishandling materials bearing their names or images;
Entering North Korea without proper travel documentation;
Possessing material that is in any way critical of the DPRK government;
Proselytizing or carrying out religious activities, including activities that may be construed as such, like leaving behind religious materials;
Engaging in unsanctioned political activities;
Traveling without authorization, even for short distances;
Having unauthorized interaction with the local population;
Exchanging currency with an unauthorized vendor;
Taking unauthorized photographs;
Bringing pornography into the country;
Shopping at stores not designated for foreigners; and
Removing or tampering with political slogans and signs or pictures of political leaders.

Numerous foreigners have been held in North Korea for extended periods of time without being formally charged with any crimes. Detained foreigners have been questioned daily for several weeks without the presence of counsel and have been compelled to make public statements and take part in public trials.

Since the United States does not maintain diplomatic or consular relations with North Korea, the U.S. government has no means to provide normal consular services to U.S. citizens. The Embassy of Sweden in Pyongyang is the Protecting Power for U.S. citizens in the DPRK providing limited consular services to U.S. citizens who require emergency assistance. Although the U.S.-DPRK Interim Consular Agreement stipulates that North Korea will notify the Embassy of Sweden within four days of an arrest or detention of a U.S. citizen and will allow consular visits by the Swedish Embassy within two days after a request is made, the DPRK government routinely delays or denies consular access.

The DPRK funnels revenue from a variety of sources to its nuclear and weapons programs, which it prioritizes above everything else, often at the expense of the well-being of its own people. It is entirely possible that money spent by tourists in the DPRK goes to fund these programs. We would urge all travelers, before travelling to the DPRK, to consider what they might be supporting.

The DPRK remains one of the most heavily sanctioned countries in the world. U.S. citizens traveling to North Korea should familiarize themselves with all applicable sanctions relating to the country, particularly U.S. sanctions. To learn more about U.S. sanctions on the DPRK, see the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

The Department of State remains deeply concerned about the DPRK’s ongoing, systematic, and widespread human rights violations. To learn more about North Korea’s deplorable human rights situation, see the DPRK Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 2015.

The United States and the United Nations Security Council have expressed grave concern regarding North Korea’s recent nuclear tests, ballistic missile launches, and other activities prohibited by United Nations Security Council Resolutions. UN Security Council statements from January 2016 and March 2016 are posted on the UN website.

As a result of concerns arising from unannounced missile launch activities and GPS navigation systems interference and/or disruption, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Prohibition and Advisory notice to U.S. airmen and operators. The FAA has issued Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) 79 which prohibits U.S. civil aviation from flying in the Pyongyang Flight Information Region (FIR) west of 132 degrees east longitude, and the FAA has advised those flying in and around the Pyongyang (FIR) east of 132 degrees east longitude to be aware of possible GPS interruptions. For more information, U.S. citizens should consult the Federal Aviation Administration’s Prohibitions, Restrictions and Notices.

Here's a little more background info on what led to his arrest. I think it's clear that the entire story could've been made up by North Korea:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/josh-rogin/wp/2017/06/15/otto-warmbiers-north-korea-roommate-speaks-out/?utm_term=.7e3941a2d6bb

Quote:

Originally Posted by javadog (Post 9628384)

I don't think I would believe 100% of any story from either side that comes out at this point.

Is it possible that the kid didn't do anything? Sure, it's North Korea. The only human rights that North Koreans have is to adore the leader and eventually die. How they die is anyones best guess (and whim).

Just another reason why going in the first place is not recommended.

The govt believes that so strongly that they didn't just state it once.

"The Department of State strongly warns U.S. citizens not to travel to North Korea/the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The Department of State strongly warns U.S. citizens not to travel to North Korea/the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)."

No one is arguing your point Steve. Of course it's stupid to go to NK, but it's not illegal. You never did anything stupid when you were 20 years old? Are you a parent?

Bottom line...regardless of the choice to go to NK, the Obama admin did nothing to help rescue this American citizen and tried to silence his family. The Trump administration acted decisively and brought him home, albeit too late to avoid the physical abuse inflicted on this young man that very possibly could have been avoided.

no signs of physical abuse.

Probably used him as a pin cushion for mind control drugs.

rjp

What are they calling it, 'unresponsive awareness'?

First it was a 'coma'. But when I saw those two Norks carrying him around, the guy clearly was walking, taking steps. He was also supporting almost 100% of his own weight. He was completely passive, otherwise.

So now they say he has severe brain damage due to hypoxia secondary to barbiturate toxicity. And somebody is now saying the guy was severely beaten while in prison.

The kid was hugely emotional every time I've seen videos of him released by the Norks.

I'm saying the kid went catatonic. He was sentenced to a buncha years hard labor. How best not to comply?

Go limp. Attain the classic 'waxy flexibility' that enables you to facilitate your handlers with their chores necessary to maintain you.

Dad is a really, really smart man. He handles himself in an exemplary fashion. And he makes a lot of sense.

Such as this sentiment: Otto is now amongst people whom he knows love him.

And this: He has no need of an explanation. They did what they did and now he has to deal with it.

Also, Tucker is blowing cable competition out of the water. Megan got played again.

I'm guessing he was either tortured to the point of cardiac arrest or deprived of oxygen as torture (like by holding his head underwater).

Not all torture leaves marks, and it has been at least a year since his brain damage.

I keep seeing the moving images of him on trial.

The boy was already broken even before being sentenced.

The stories that flow out of NK after it folds will rival WWII Germany in barbarism.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pavulon (Post 9628622)

The stories that flow out of NK after it folds will rival WWII Germany in barbarism.

True, but that may not be for decades or even another century.

China fears a united, strong Korea. (Imagine if North and South Korea merged and the industrialized South spread north.) They like having a buffer state. They will prop up North Korea for that purpose. They really don't care what happens to average North Koreans as a result.

There is no chance for North Korea to fall until China is weak.

I'm sure there are more moving pieces than we civilians could ever imagine. But, from an uninformed emotional perspective, I hope we can neutralize this cancer soon. Would be nice to see some progress.

Maybe the Norks did apply a devastating new pharmacological device of torture. Kept the guy on a bad acid trip for weeks or months.

Who was that Roman Emporer guy who tortured for sport and entertainment? Wasn't it the guy who got in right after Caligula?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crowbob (Post 9628673)

Claudius?

As an aside: if you're looking for a good historical read try "I, Claudius" and "Claudius the God" by Robert Graves

Quote:

Originally Posted by legion (Post 9628653)

There is no chance for North Korea to fall until China is weak.

I'm not sure about that. China has been distancing themselves from NK recently. And people can not survive on propaganda alone.

And the Chinese value money over their military. If it looks like NK is going to start a war with the West, which is bad for business, then all support from China vanishes over night.

Kid didn't deserve this.......hoping those accountable are brought to justice....:mad::mad::mad:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocaholic (Post 9628423)

Nor should he have. it's not the responsibility of the US gubmint (or taxpayers) to bail people out of messes they created through their own poor judgement.
Our actions have consequences and i am a big fan of personal responsibility.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baz (Post 9628938)

Kid didn't deserve this.......hoping those accountable are brought to justice....:mad::mad::mad:

Well nobody in North Korea deserves this.
But it's no secret that it happens there.

Why is it important and requires somebody to brought to justice in the case when somebody self inflicts this on himself.

Yet when it happens every day for people who never had a choice or chance and nobody bats an eyelid. Sorry , but I don't buy that.

Not simply because the kid does or does not match my own nationality.. that's just not good enough reason to get upset or mad about.

If a Belgian goes there, and get's himself in trouble...
I don't expect my governement to waste much time and resources over him.

I'de rather have em spend my tax money on people who got in trouble through no choice if their own. People with bad luck or health...

Quote:

Originally Posted by svandamme (Post 9629012)

Well nobody in North Korea deserves this.
But it's no secret that it happens there.

Why is it important and requires somebody to brought to justice in the case when somebody self inflicts this on himself.

Yet when it happens every day for people who never had a choice or chance and nobody bats an eyelid. Sorry , but I don't buy that.

Not simply because the kid does or does not match my own nationality.. that's just not good enough reason to get upset or mad about.

If a Belgian goes there, and get's himself in trouble...
I don't expect my government to waste much time and resources over him.

I'd rather have em spend my tax money on people who got in trouble through no choice if their own. People with bad luck or health...

I never said in my post the government should be involved in anything.

People do things that are "self-inflicted" all the time and we do what we can to help.

We have treatment centers worldwide for folks with addiction issues, for example.

You're welcome to your opinion but this pisses me off to no end....:mad:

there are worse things to be pissed off about

Quote:

Originally Posted by svandamme (Post 9629089)

there are worse things to be pissed off about

I never said they weren't.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by svandamme (Post 9629089)

there are worse things to be pissed off about

I hope your kids never do anything stupid and need help as a result. If mine do, rest assured I will pull every possible chain to help them. If yours do, and your son or daughter are at risk of being brutalized, I'm sure you'll shrug your shoulders and go about your day. :rolleyes:

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammyg2 (Post 9628959)

Exactly. I'm not directing this to any one person, just agreeing that the concept of personal responsibility needs to temper the expectation that the government is like a big hand in the sky that is going to pop out of a cloud to save you.

He passed away today. If it was me, I'd want the same. I saw my dad like that for the past several years. Told my wife to not let me live like that.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-student-freed-north-korea-204425775.html

Wow, that was unexpected. I'm very glad that he made it home before he passed.

That fat little lunatic that runs North Korea needs to be killed, sooner rather than later. Here's hoping that Mattis has people working on that eventuality now, so that when North Korea really becomes a threat we already have a plan in place to deal with it.

JR

Take it to parf. I seriously blame the Obama administration for this. As well as the MSM.

Just lay low. Shut up. We're doing something.

BS.

Did the kid FU? Yes. But nobody should die for what is a low level college prank. And we sat on our collective asses and let it happen. Seriously upsets me. I don't expect or want the government to save us from our own stupidity. But I do expect them to at least try to do the right thing when somebody f's with our citizens. My heart goes out to him and his family.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cairns (Post 9632505)

I feel bad for his family.....one momentary mistake and he paid with his life. However, do we risk thermo nuclear war over one dumb mistake? Not in my opinion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugsinrugs (Post 9632539)

However, do we risk thermo nuclear war over one dumb mistake? Not in my opinion.

No. of course not. However, if you believe that NK will eventually be able to hit us with a nuke than I think we'll be hitting them first. I just hope we already have a plan under formulation beyond what we've got on the table now.

JR