So Sad..Otto Warmbeir, Student Who Was Held Captive In North Korea Has Died

Oh my, what a shame. I was hoping they'd somehow pull him through the coma. Those rotten people; they wouldn't ship him home until it became too costly to care for him.
 
RadishRose said:
Oh my, what a shame. I was hoping they'd somehow pull him through the coma. Those rotten people; they wouldn't ship him home until it became too costly to care for him.
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I don't think the cost of his care was an issue. They could have just killed him any time they wanted. I am suspicious they sent him back in such bad shape, as his death was imminent, as some kind of sadistic, in-your-face insult. His father pretty much laid that out in his initial interview before his son passed.
 

I may be alone in my views but IMO Otto Warmbeir is the only person responsible for this tragic event. I can't for the life of me understand why anyone would go into such a dangerous place as North Korea voluntarily as a tourist. I'm at a loss to understand why if you do choose to go to North Korea that you don't keep your mouth shut and your hands to yourself until you are safely back home. I feel very bad for this young man and his family but I honestly believe that it could have been prevented if he had chosen a more suitable travel destination.
 
dpwspringer said:
I don't think the cost of his care was an issue. They could have just killed him any time they wanted. I am suspicious they sent him back in such bad shape, as his death was imminent, as some kind of sadistic, in-your-face insult. His father pretty much laid that out in his initial interview before his son passed.
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I think you're right. I'm naive sometimes. :(
 
Aunt Bea said:
I may be alone in my views but IMO Otto Warmbeir is the only person responsible for this tragic event. I can't for the life of me understand why anyone would go into such a dangerous place as North Korea voluntarily as a tourist. I'm at a loss to understand why if you do choose to go to North Korea that you don't keep your mouth shut and your hands to yourself until you are safely back home. I feel very bad for this young man and his family but I honestly believe that it could have been prevented if he had chosen a more suitable travel destination.
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I don't blame him completely, but I understand what you're saying Bea. I was just telling my husband that even if I visited Mexico, I'd be sure to keep my nose clean and not do anything that would put me in one of their jails. In a place like North Korea, I probably would have avoided going there completely to begin with, and definitely watch my Ps and Qs every step of the way if I did, it's a very chancy thing to do IMO. I do feel bad for his family, and may he rest peacefully after all he's been through. :(
 
I'm so sorry that this happened to such a young man who had his whole life before him. My condolences to his family and his classmates. However I disagree with Aunt Bea. The problem was not the destination. Ottto Warmbeir was part of a college (U of VA) sponsored trip and visiting North Korea was supposed to be a cultural experience.

I do not fault the school for taking this group to North Korea nor Otto for going but the young man simply forgot his manners. He would have returned to Charlottesville safely with the rest of his group had he not tried to steal a political banner from his hotel hallway. He probably thought it would be a cool souvenir.

In this country, it would have been a college prank. In North Korea it was a jailable offense. I feel that his horrible treatment in jail was the result of the current heated political climate. Kim Jong Un flexing muscle.
 
Aunt Bea said:
I may be alone in my views but IMO Otto Warmbeir is the only person responsible for this tragic event. I can't for the life of me understand why anyone would go into such a dangerous place as North Korea voluntarily as a tourist. I'm at a loss to understand why if you do choose to go to North Korea that you don't keep your mouth shut and your hands to yourself until you are safely back home. I feel very bad for this young man and his family but I honestly believe that it could have been prevented if he had chosen a more suitable travel destination.
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He was young and adventurous, looking for the thrill of a lifetime... thus the taking of the poster as proof/souvenir. One of my sayings/observations as an old man is that with all the dumb and dangerous things that a typical male does growing up, it is amazing that any of us survive.
 
SeaBreeze said:
I don't blame him completely, but I understand what you're saying Bea. I was just telling my husband that even if I visited Mexico, I'd be sure to keep my nose clean and not do anything that would put me in one of their jails. In a place like North Korea, I probably would have avoided going there completely to begin with, and definitely watch my Ps and Qs every step of the way if I did, it's a very chancy thing to do IMO. I do feel bad for his family, and may he rest peacefully after all he's been through. :(
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Absolutely. It's not like the U.S. Laws in foreign countries are different and the punishment for breaking those laws can be severe. Condolences to his family. How unspeakably tragic to lose someone so young.
 
SeaBreeze said:
I don't blame him completely, but I understand what you're saying Bea. I was just telling my husband that even if I visited Mexico, I'd be sure to keep my nose clean and not do anything that would put me in one of their jails. In a place like North Korea, I probably would have avoided going there completely to begin with, and definitely watch my Ps and Qs every step of the way if I did, it's a very chancy thing to do IMO. I do feel bad for his family, and may he rest peacefully after all he's been through. :(
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I understand also, Aunt Bea,and I agree. I don't think what the Koreans did to him was justified, or right, by any stretch. But if I were visiting a country like Korea, I'd be very very careful not to cross any of their lines. When we were stationed overseas, we told in no uncertain terms that laws and punishments are different in different countries and if you get in trouble with the locals you can't expect the US to step in and get you out of trouble. Most of us got the message loud and clear.
 
It just proves the intense hatred the North Korean government has for the USA.

Kim Jong Un will be absolutely delighted when he has reached the capability to strike a major West Coast city with a nuclear-tipped missile, and that day is getting closer unless we can crush his nuclear program!

HDH
 
Yes,It is indeed sad, but it's beyond me why anybody would want to visit NORTH Korea with
that egomaniac Un in charge. If you want to visit Korea, try SOUTH Korea ! Much safer there.
 
dpwspringer said:
He was young and adventurous, looking for the thrill of a lifetime... thus the taking of the poster as proof/souvenir. One of my sayings/observations as an old man is that with all the dumb and dangerous things that a typical male does growing up, it is amazing that any of us survive.
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For Sure....he made a dumb mistake by taking this poster...which the N. Koreans probably considered an insult. However, if he had "asked" someone in authority for a copy of that poster, the N. Koreans would have probably considered that a Positive, and treated him like Dennis Rodman. If a person is going to visit a foreign country...especially one so hostile as NK, they would be well advised to carefully research the laws/customs of such a nation, and behave accordingly.
 
What happened to Otto was completely due to BARBARIC behavior on the part of North Korea, irrespective of his Phony Crime and Archaic, Barbaric NK laws. How long is the rest of the Civilized World going to tolerate this BARBARIC REGIME?
 
Lon said:
What happened to Otto was completely due to BARBARIC behavior on the part of North Korea, irrespective of his Phony Crime and Archaic, Barbaric NK laws. How long is the rest of the Civilized World going to tolerate this BARBARIC REGIME?
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What is it that the Civilized World should do that they are not already doing?
 
dpwspringer said:
What is it that the Civilized World should do that they are not already doing?
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They should simply ask NK if they are prepared to take on many countries in a major conflict if they do not cease ALL Missle & Nuclear testing. They may not worry about the USA or South Korea in a major conflict but I doubt they would want to take on every one.
 
Agree Hal but I do think you have to respect the laws of other nations and he should not have done what he did. I do think we should blow that Chubby off the planet.
 
Can't people learn that North Korea is a country you should never visit ? Do they think that going there is little different than visiting Costa Rica or Canada ? People should be in charge of their own safety and security, to the degree that they are able to do that.
 
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