U.S. urges North Korea to release American student

[WhiteTara]

Source: USA Today

The Obama administration demanded North Korea release an American college student sentenced Wednesday to 15 years of hard labor for trying to take a propaganda banner as a souvenir.

Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old University of Virginia student, was traveling with a tour group in January when he was arrested in Pyonyang for allegedly "perpetrating a hostile act." He was convicted of subversion and sentenced in a one-hour trial Wednesday morning, the North's official Korean Central News Agency announced.

"Now that Mr. Warmbier has gone through the criminal process, we would urge (North Korean officials) to grant him a special pardon and release him," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.

Toner accused North Korea of using such arrests and "unduly harsh" sentences as a propaganda tool. He also said the case "underscores the risk associated with traveling there."

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/03/15/north-korea-american-tourist-sentenced/81846432/

[FLPanhandle]

1. North Korea does this all the time

Arrest a westerner and then exchange them for aid or some other concessions.

Basically, they capture and sell human beings.

[Bad Dog]

2. Did nobody tell him what North Korea was like.

If you go somewhere like that you've got to be squeaky clean. Vandalising a hotel sign is a really stupid thing to do. Not that he should get 15 years hard labour mind, but who was advising him?

He won't do 15 years but I don't think he'll be out anytime soon.