He would appear to be micro-agressed.
Posted on 03/18/2016 10:11:00 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
North Korea has released a grainy video that it claims shows American student Otto Warmbier attempting to steal a propaganda banner from a hotel — an accusation for which he received 15 years of hard labor.
The short clip at the Yanggakdo International Hotel in Pyongyang shows an unidentifiable figure removing a sign from a wall before placing it on the floor.
The banner in the hotel apparently says: "Let's arm ourselves strongly with Kim Jong Il patriotism," referring to the isolated state's leader who died in 2011.
The short security-camera footage could not be verified, and the clip shows a brightly lit corridor in the hotel supposedly in the early hours of January 1, when Warmbier was accused of taking the sign.
North Korea regularly blacks out many buildings because of resource shortages in the country.
Warmbier was arrested as he attempted to leave the country in January and later made a televised "confession" saying he had taken the sign to bring back as a "trophy."
The 21-year-old student, who had visited the isolated state as a tourist, had said during his confession that he had tried to steal the banner for an acquaintance who wanted to hang it in her church.
The North Korean state news agency KCNA earlier said that the University of Virginia student's offense was "pursuant to the US government's hostile policy" and that he was convicted under an article of the criminal code dealing with subversion.
Foreigners are often detained in North Korea, where they are used by Pyongyang to exert diplomatic pressure.
But the rogue state has often imposed stiff sentences before releasing prisoners, and many of those who have confessed later say they were forced to do so.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
He would appear to be micro-agressed.
That’s my thought too. If it was a set-up, than he was probably told what to confess to. I’ve read more about this story - he confessed to being a stooge for the administration (I’d cry too) and working on their behalf.
We have no idea what he went through before the trial. Must be total hell.
The stupid is strong in this one. Him being an American, he probably had folks following him.
Back in the early 80’s my brother travelled by train from Finland to China.. He said while in Russia, there were deffinately folks tailing them. Didn’t harass them but definately were watching them.
Exactly. And ask for another one just for Dennis Rodman.
I was feeling sorry for him and then I realized he was a swayin sissy from UVa.
I got one of those banners for $12.95 at commies r us.
Several posters and I would all like to know why he went to North Korea.
You don't know that at all. All you know is what North Korea has said - that's it.
And you trust North Korea.
Hey honey, we can finally build that home office you wanted in Otto's room.
LOL! Seriously, why aren’t the leftys protesting this microaggresssion by North Korea? Why aren’t they demanding he be allowed to retreat into his safe space?
Not once has he denied stealing it, and has in fact admitted it on the world-wide stage. Would you do that if you were being set up? Sorry, I’m not as gullible as you. While 15 years at hard labor is grossly unfair, he could have gotten death by machine gunning. Maybe Rodman can get him out.
Why was he there in the 1st place?......Probably for the beaches?
I’m upset. After all, where IS his ‘safe space’?
They PROMOTE tourism, presumably so they have a supply of potential hostages on hand at any time they need to make a point. Current situation is the periodic US-SK military exercises.
Another reason not to go to North Korea lol.
Any foreigner has “folks following him”.
I think it’s just that he was handy at a time the Norks thought they could use a hostage. Some drama, some PR, make a point or two, eventually collect some sort of ransom.
They have done this MANY times.
Anyone who travels there is an idiot.
RE: Several posters and I would all like to know why he went to North Korea.
According to reports:
http://abcnews.go.com/International/american-student-held-north-korea/story?id=37693549
Otto Warmbier was visiting North Korea as part of a tourist group arranged by Young Pioneer Tours, a tour agency based in Xian, China.
Warmbier said he tried to steal the poster in exchange for a $10,000 used car, the New York Times reported, citing information the North Korean state news media released late last month.
He also said that the Z Society, a secret club at the University of Virginia founded in 1862, promised him membership if he was successful at stealing the poster, according to the New York Times, citing North Korean state media from a press conference on Feb. 29. A member at the Z society at UVA told CNN late last month the organization had never been in contact with Warmbier and that he had never approached them to become a member.
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