NORTH KOREA: The Tragic Tale of Otto Warmbier (PART 1)

In the shadows of the global stage, North Korea stands as a notorious symbol of a heartless regime, its brutal gulags, and the deplorable conditions endured by its prisoners. The haunting accounts of survivors from these harrowing "labour camps" expose a world where sadistic prison guards unleash torture, starvation, and unimaginable abuse upon helpless inmates day after day.

Today, we delve into the devastating story of Otto Warmbier—a promising, young, and vibrant "All-American" college student with a future brimming with possibilities. Little did he know that his journey would take an unexpected turn when he embarked on a package tour to North Korea from China, where he was studying abroad. What transpired within the confines of the reclusive nation remains shrouded in mystery, but one undeniable truth remains: Otto returned home to Cincinnati, his beloved hometown, in a coma, tragically passing away on 19th June 2017.

Did this young American student fall victim to unspeakable acts of torture? Why did North Korea imprison him? And what sinister motives propelled the heartless Kim regime to take an American political prisoner as their bargaining chip? In this gripping exposé, we embark on a quest for answers.

Join us as we uncover the unfathomable truth behind Otto Warmbier's fateful journey, shedding light on the enigma that is North Korea, and unravelling the intricate web of events that led to this senseless tragedy. 

WHO WAS OTTO WARMBIER?

Otto was the type of young man that one can describe as "All-American". He was smart, good-looking and a high-achiever. Born on December 12th, 1994 to Fred and Cindy Warmbier, he was the eldest of three children. He graduated from the Wyoming High School in 2013 with a salutatorian grade, this means he was the second-highest ranked graduate of his whole graduating class. He was also a National Merit scholar and Homecoming king. 

Otto with his parents, Fred and Nancy Warmbier

After high school, Otto enrolled in the University of Virgina, and pursued a major in economics. He earned enough grades to graduate as a sophomore. After that, he spent one year studying at the London School of Economics. Numbers were his passion and he was enthusiastic to learn about the management of companies. He worked at an investment bank on Wall Street for a while. His plan was to further pursue studies in the fields of business and finance in the future. 

Warmbier was an athletic and healthy young man. He loved sports and was captain of his soccer team in high school. He never had any significant health issues or problems with his teeth. He also did not have any scars or wounds on his feet. This is significant as these things appeared when he returned from North Korea. 

In the spring semester at the University of Virgina, Otto was scheduled to participate in a study abroad program in Hong Kong. He wanted to spend some time exploring Asia before the scheduled start of his classes. Otto started his travels on December 2015. Prior to his departure, he turned 21 years of age. 

During this time, Otto decided to book a trip to North Korea using a tour company called Young Pioneer Tours. A China- based tour operator catering to Westerners with a specialty of taking travelers to "destinations your mother would rather you stay away from". The young man wanted to travel to North Korea as he believed it was his opportunity to see what life was like in one of the most closed societies in the world. 

Otto enjoyed his tour in Pyongyang with his international tour group

Unfortunately, the ban for American travellers to go to North Korea only came in September of 2017. It was after Otto died. At the time of his trip, in 2015, quite many Americans were travelling to this small, hostile nation to get a glimpse in the very curated life of the people living in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. 

GOOD TIMES END IN A NIGHTMARE

Otto's tour lasted five days. We can see from private videos that the international group had a good time in Pyongyang. They partied in the nights, and spent the days touring the city and interacting with highly rehearsed North Koreans. They stayed at Yanggakdo Hotel, the largest operating hotel in the North Korean capital. 

Yanggakdo Hotel is one of the few place that foreigners can stay in the Pyongyang

Yanggakdo Hotel is quite lavish with a pool room, a bowling alley, a swimming pool, sauna, barber shop and casino. There is also a massage club. There is a revolving restaurant and a further four restaurants on the second floor. It has 1001 rooms and 47 floors!

The elevator does not have a button to the forbidden 5th floor

The hotel's fifth floor has been a massive source of intrigue for many foreigners who stay there. It is exclusively for the staff and forbidden to foreign guests. As people are people, they don't respect the rules and try to sneak around this off-limits zone. The elevators does not have a button for the fifth floor, so one has to use the stairs to access this floor. Usually, the foreigners who are caught feign innocence and run away. And then, nothing happens. However, on Otto's trip there was something different. 

The staff quarters on fifth floor of the Yanggakdo Hotel is full of propaganda on the walls

On the last day, everyone packed up and went to the Pyongyang Sunan International Airport on their scheduled departure date of January 2, 2016. Everyone boarded the plane, except for Otto Warmbier. He was detained by two guards while going through security. He was forbidden to leave the country with the rest of the tour members. 

"That's the last we will see of you!", one tour friend joked. He didn't know how true those words were. 

A JOKE OF A TRIAL 

Twenty days after the arrest, on 22 January, 2016, North Korea’s state media outlet, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Otto's case. According to the news agency, Otto was arrested for carrying out a hostile act against North Korea. The report mentioned that he entered the country pretending to be a tourist, but allegedly engaged in a plot against North Korea while being influenced by the U.S. government.

Five weeks later, on February 29th, 2016, Otto appeared on a televised "press conference" where he was forced to read out a statement. The young American was escorted by guards and led to a podium. There, he read the piece of paper in his hand, confessing to his crimes. Otto was visibly traumatized and upset during the whole ordeal. He begged and pleaded for his life and for any assistance possible with his case. He begged for forgiveness, for his release and to be allowed to return home to his family. 

Otto begging for his freedom and for his life

The crime he confessed to was sneaking in the middle of the night to the forbidden fifth floor of his hotel and stealing a propaganda poster off the wall. He was forced to claim that the Friendship United Methodist Church in Cincinnati had assigned him this "task" in exchange for a used car, with the intention of displaying the poster as a trophy within the church. 

Otto explained that the United States administration and politicians were utilizing the Friendship United Methodist Church to harm the DPR Korea through deceitful methods. However, in reality, Otto had no connection with the Friendship United Methodist Church, and it was not being utilized by the U.S. government in the manner he falsely alleged. 

Camera footage "proving" Otto's crime

Otto also mentioned that he had extensively prepared for this unlawful act before leaving the United States, even going so far as intentionally packing his quietest boots for stealth.

Otto also claimed that his "crime" was committed under the influence of the Z Society, a secret society at UVA that he alleged was closely associated with the CIA, with the complicity of the United States administration. However, in reality, Otto had no connection with the Z Society, and it is not affiliated with the CIA. 

Throughout his statement, he repeatedly referred to the actions of the U.S. government, portraying himself as a victim of their consistently hostile policies towards the DPR Korea. The press conference concluded with Otto delivering clearly rehearsed answers, which he was compelled to provide in response to prearranged questions from the audience.

THE SENTENCING

About two weeks later after the sham press conference, with Otto's coerced "confession", the KCNA reported that a one-hour trial took place where Otto Warmbier was found guilty by the non-independent North Korean judiciary on charges of state subversion. He was subsequently sentenced to fifteen years of arduous labor. 

Otto had to be physically dragged away by North Korean authorities, he was so traumatized he could not walk. 

According to KCNA, Otto's alleged actions were carried out in accordance with the U.S. government's hostile policy towards North Korea. Only brief excerpts of the trial were made public, and no official court records were accessible. In the released video clips, Otto's hands appeared unnaturally positioned inward. 

Human Rights Watch referred to the event as a "kangaroo court." Mark Toner, a spokesman for the U.S. State Department, remarked that it was evident that North Korea was exploiting Otto for political motives. A "kangaroo court" is an illegitimate court that lacks fairness and impartiality, often predetermined or biased against the defendant, operating without proper adherence to due process. It is a mock judicial proceeding that undermines justice and disregards fundamental principles of fairness.

In conclusion, the fate of Otto Warmbier after his sentencing in North Korea raises profound questions. For a staggering seventeen months, he was isolated from his family, leaving us to wonder about the circumstances surrounding his captivity. How did he navigate the clutches of the North Korean regime and ultimately find his way out? 

While the answers to these questions may not come easily, we are committed to exploring and shedding light on this enigmatic chapter of Otto's story in Part 2 of our series. Join us as we delve into the events that unfolded during his time in captivity and the remarkable journey that led to his eventual escape.

References:

• District of Columbia Civil Lawsuit document between Cynthia and Fred Warmbier vs the DPRK
• GQ.com: The Untold Story of Otto Warmbier, American Hostage
• CNN: Who was Otto Warmbier?
• DW Documentary: What happened to Otto Warmbier in North Korea?
• NBC News: Otto Warmbier's family awarded $240k in seized North Korean assets
• VOA News: Court Papers Hint at Warmbier’s Treatment in North Korea