This is so very sad. I'm so glad that his parents at least got him home to die.
I'm sort of curious why kids even go over there. I would never let my kids go. So sad.
Do you think there should be retribution towards North Korea? What should it be?
Kim Jong Un is quite crazy.
What a horrible nightmare and tragedy for this young man's family.
Such a waste! They killed that young man just because they could. Sanctions do not matter because he is crazy and does not care how much his own people suffer. YOu can't stop adults from doing anything but I certainly would try. If his parents were paying for his college I would have used that as a threat to not pay to keep one of my kids home.
Such a sad tragedy. Sometimes, you can't really tell 21 year olds what to do, and they will go off to experience the world. Sadly, this poor kid went to the wrong place, and I think it is a true shame that that tour company profits from endangering people in the name of adventure travel.
I don't understand his condition when he returned--how did he remain alive with no ventilator given his apparent injuries? Such a mystery; I wish they could get some answers as to what happened to him.
Sad so sad.
I just think the "Leader" is just pushing every button to see what the USA will do. This just seemed like one more notch for him.
Yes, it's hard to believe he survived as long as he did, since I think he's been in a coma for a year? The B.S. about botulism and a sleeping pill is absurd. My heart aches for his parents......thinking about him all this time over there. And seeing the initial pics of him crying and begging for forgiveness. I can't imagine that agony. Was this a college group trip sponsored by the college?
Definitely not a college tour. It was these folks, apparently:
http://www.youngpioneertours.com/
their motto: Specialising in North Korea tours, we provide “budget travel to destinations your mother would rather you stayed away from”.
You'd think they would have changed that by now.
They made a statement about the death of the young man:
Statement Regarding Otto Warmbier
Date: June 20, 2017 By Young Pioneer Tours Categories: blog news Tags: North Korea No comments
Our deepest sympathies are with Otto Warmbier and those who loved him. We had held onto hope that he might recover, and have the life that he should have had, but now those hopes are gone, and we too are reeling with the shock of a young man's life taken well before his time.
The devastating loss of Otto Warmbier's life has led us to reconsider our position on accepting American tourists. There had not been any previous detainment in North Korea that has ended with such tragic finality and we have been struggling to process the result. Now, the assessment of risk for Americans visiting North Korea has become too high.
The way his detention was handled was appalling, and a tragedy like this must never be repeated. Despite constant requests, we were denied any opportunity to meet him or anyone in contact with him in Pyongyang, only receiving assurances that he was fine. There has still been almost no information disclosed about his period in detention. Considering these facts and this tragic outcome we will no longer be organising tours for US citizens to North Korea.
Originally Posted by CathyA
My thoughts exactly, I would never let my kids go to North Korea.
Young people want to push the limits and this is a dangerous country.
Thanks for that link and info Tybee. It seems like the travel company was a bit too late in worrying about these things.
I think I could have scared my kids into not going there. I mean, it's been crazy for quite a while. I think I would even have had some ultimatums. But honestly, I don't think my kids would have been interested.
DS was sort of approached about helping with a film in Iran. I'm glad he was open to us saying (NO WAY!!).
The article said that they would no long offer tours to U.S. citizens. Can all sorts of other country's citizens go there, without problems? I mean I know Kim Jong Un hates the U.S. in particular, but it seems like other countries would have fears going too.
A few of my relatives visited North Korea, in September of 1950. They tell me it wasn't a very hospitable tourist destination, even back then.
I had an uncle who visited the Chosin Reservoir, but the beach was closed.
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