Thread by @UsaKfl

The Truth About the Otto Warmbier Story

Widely known as the American student who took a poster from the street and ended up imprisoned and tortured to death in North Korea—but is this story really true? Today, we’ll share the part of this story that you were never told.

Who Was Otto Warmbier?

Otto was a 21-year-old student at the University of Virginia in the U.S. who visited North Korea as a tourist in 2016, just like thousands of people do every year. Along with a group of other tourists, he stayed at the Yanggakdo Hotel.

According to the Western capitalist media, Otto was just a student visiting the country when, while casually walking down the street, he picked up a random poster and kept it for himself. As a result, he was allegedly imprisoned, tortured, and fell into a coma before being sent back to his family in the U.S. to die.

A shocking, dramatic tale that stirs deep emotions worldwide, often used to condemn the so-called oppressive regime. But is it really true?

What Did Otto Warmbier Say in North Korean Court, in the Presence of International Journalists and Observers? (FULL VIDEO in English)

Here is his statement, his confession, and the details of the crime he premeditated:

- Otto Warmbier: "First, I would like to thank you all for attending this press conference of the trial, which I requested to take place. I also want to express my sincere gratitude for this opportunity to apologize for my crime, beg for forgiveness, and plead for any assistance to save my life.

On December 29, 2015, I entered the DPRK as a tourist. On January 1, I committed severe crimes against the people and government of the DPRK. Due to this crime, on January 2, I was detained and placed under investigation.

My name is Otto Frederick Warmbier, I am 22 years old, a finance student at the University of Virginia, currently in my third year. My home address is ******, where I live with my family. At present, I reside in a rented apartment near my university. My father owns a small factory that barely covers our family’s expenses, my mother is a homemaker, and my younger brother and sister are both high school students.

On January 2, I committed the crime of trespassing into a private and restricted area of a building and stealing a political slogan. This task was given to me by the First United Methodist Church in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Growing up in the United States, I was taught by the mass media and in school that the DPRK is a mysterious and isolated communist country. This led to my youthful ignorance, as I wanted to show bravery and build my reputation by demonstrating Western victory over the DPRK.

My friends had told me that the DPRK was a beautiful country with stunning architecture. They suggested that if I were interested, I should consider visiting. Based on this recommendation, I started planning my trip. In January 2016, I was scheduled to begin a university-funded course in Hong Kong, and I took this opportunity to visit the DPRK as a tourist before starting my finance course.

I asked my father and brother to travel with me, contacted various tour agencies via email, and chose the cheapest one. I gave my father $800, and he agreed to pay the remaining $400 to cover the $1,200 trip at the end of December.

Back in September, I had dinner at my friend Stephen Webb’s house with his mother, Sharon Webb, who is a deaconess at the Friendship United Methodist Church. She mentioned that communist nations value propaganda slogans and suggested that I take one from the country to display in her church as a trophy. She then continued, knowing that I was desperate to get a car for transportation between home and university every day. She offered me a used car and $10,000 if I succeeded. She also said that if I were detained and unable to return, her church would pay my mother $200,000 as a generous contribution, which I intended to use for my siblings’ college tuition—though this would still be $200,000 short of the total $400,000 needed.

Then, she showed me the church’s bank account with $40 million. At first, I hesitated out of fear, but as my family was struggling with severe financial difficulties, I began to see this as a golden opportunity to earn money. The most important thing she told me was that I must never expose the Friendship United Methodist Church, or no payment would be made.

In early October, I briefly informed my mother about the proposal, telling her that I planned to steal something valuable from the country and that if I were caught, she would receive bank transfers to cover my siblings' education. She cried and begged me not to do anything dangerous.

But from then on, I was pressured multiple times by the church, and I ultimately decided to proceed with this premeditated crime. Meanwhile, the ‘Z Society’ also encouraged this act. When I learned that its members earn high salaries after graduation, I was eager to join them. In late November, I told a fellow university student and Z Society member about my plan in the DPRK. He informed me that this act would benefit the society’s goal of promoting "freedom" and ending "tyranny." He assured me that if I succeeded, he would help me join the society. However, if I were caught, they would pressure the North Korean government through their partners. Finally, he told me that I must never expose the Z Society's encouragement.

After meticulously planning my actions, I arrived in Pyongyang on December 29 from Beijing, and on January 1, I committed the crime of stealing a North Korean slogan."

- North Korean Court Official: "Warmbier’s statement has concluded. As you have heard, the U.S. administration is committing malicious acts against our country. If you have any questions, please proceed."

- KCNA Journalist: "I am from the Korean Central News Agency. What motivation do you believe the Friendship United Methodist Church had in assigning you this task?"

- Otto Warmbier: “I will now explain the motivation of the Friendship United Methodist Church in giving me this mission. The Friendship United Methodist Church is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the United States. I have known this church since my childhood because I grew up there. You can find more information about this church on the internet.

It is not a typical church; it is very wealthy, and the U.S. government has strong ties with it, promoting this type of activity in countries they claim to be anti-Christian. Several Democratic politicians from the U.S. frequently visit this church to collect funds and support it in other spheres. This church even donated more than 10 million dollars to Barack Obama’s campaign in 2008, which accounted for about 3% of the former president's campaign funds collected at this church.

For this reason, the U.S. government is so close to this church and promotes the kind of activity I am now involved in.

U.S. politicians use churches like this to harm the DPRK. If this mission had been successful, the church would have received more support from the U.S. government. Because of this hostile policy of the government against the country, I was a manipulated victim who fell into this scheme to help my family, which is struggling with financial problems.

However, since I am not a religious person, the church knew that if this came to light, they could easily deny any connection with me.

I hope this clarifies the church’s involvement in my crime. Thank you for your attention.”

- Journalist from Rodong Sinmun: “You said that Society Z encouraged you in this mission. Tell me everything you know about them.”

- Otto Warmbier: “Thank you very much for your question. Society Z is a secret organization that operates at the University of Virginia. All its members remain anonymous. I first learned about it when I entered the university and saw many of its symbols around campus.

I was told that this secret organization donates millions of dollars to the university, which is why its symbols are displayed everywhere. I know that there are at least 10 student members of 'Society Z' at the university. It is said that after graduation, all of them will become very wealthy and take on major roles in politics, business, and religion. Some well-known members of 'Society Z' include former U.S. President Woodrow Wilson and a former CIA director.

To become a member, one must be wealthy, a leader, and have top academic scores, as well as demonstrate significant acts of bravery and sacrifice against tyranny.

Because of this encouragement, I committed this crime, and without a doubt, the CIA is aware of this influence.

Finally, I would like to declare that I am a political victim of the United States' hostile policy against the DPRK. I naively attempted to obtain money through this criminal act.

I am just a pawn in a system that does not distinguish between friend and enemy—only money. I hope others do not follow the same path as I did.”

- Journalist from Joson Sinbo: “I am from Joson Sinbo, under the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan. You said that you carefully planned these steps from the U.S. before committing this crime in the DPRK. Can you tell me more about this?”

- Otto Warmbier: “Thank you for your question. Now, I will explain how I prepared to commit this crime directly from the U.S.

To learn more about the country’s slogans, I searched the internet using the keywords ‘North Korean slogan’ directly from my apartment in Virginia. I looked at about 30 images, some of them large and framed. I then thought that I could remove one of them easily, as they were large, red, and rectangular.

To practice before arriving in the country, I went out onto the street and stole traffic signs, hiding them under my bed. Then, I spoke with my friend and planned possible excuses in case I was caught by the North Korean authorities. I decided that I would say I was drunk and did not remember doing it. If I was caught with the slogan, I planned to claim that I had bought it in a souvenir shop in the country.

For this reason, when I was caught, my first statement was that I was drunk and did not remember. Additionally, while still preparing in the U.S., I picked out my best boots and got a large suitcase to fit the North Korean slogan inside.

Thank you for listening.”

- Journalist Yuri Sidorov from the Russian news agency TASS: “Tell me more about the crimes you committed in Korea.”

- Otto Warmbier: “Thank you for your question. Now, I will explain the details of the crime I committed...

On December 30, while still in Beijing, I asked my British tour guide where the political slogans were kept in the building where we were going to stay. She said they were probably in the restricted area of the building.

When I arrived, I noticed a sign on a door on the second floor stating in English that it was a restricted area. I looked for cameras but did not find any. I chose to commit my crime at dawn on New Year’s Day, thinking there would be fewer staff working due to the holiday and the late hour.

I knew my tour guide would be drunk, so I planned to use the same excuse. I then entered the restricted area of the building and searched for a slogan. When I found one, I removed it from the frame with my hands. It was much larger and heavier than I had expected. At that moment, I became very scared, realizing I would not be able to steal the slogan.

However, I managed to turn it over and then ran out of the restricted area.”

- Journalist from the Chinese news agency Xinhua: “You said that you are under investigation and have committed serious crimes. Did you undergo any form of torture or psychological pressure from the judicial authorities of the DPRK?”

- Otto Warmbier: “Thank you for your question. I will now explain the treatment I received in the country. As an American, arrested for serious crimes, I feared I would face torture and psychological pressure, but that was completely wrong in my mind. I have received the most humanitarian treatment possible. I am being held in a place that feels like a guesthouse. I haven’t received any torture or psychological pressure. I am provided with three high-quality meals a day, I have had full medical exams, and I am allowed to walk outside for one hour every day. I even got a haircut. I sleep more than eight hours a day, and as you can see, I am healthy, but I miss my family a lot.

I was very impressed with the humanitarian treatment by the government of the country and with its legal process. This is the most embarrassing moment of my life for committing a crime like this in such a friendly country. I hope that with this press conference, my family can see that I am okay and feel relieved. However, I miss them dearly.

I understand the seriousness of my crimes and have no idea what punishment I may face, but I implore the Korean people and the government for forgiveness. I just want to go home.”

- North Korean Court Official: “Any more questions? ... Mr. Warmbier, would you like to say anything else?”

- Otto Warmbier: “I want to thank the North Korean government for giving me the opportunity to ask the people for forgiveness for the crime I committed. However, the main ones responsible for this are the Friendship United Methodist Church, Society Z, and the U.S. administration, which used me, as they have used many others before me. I am a victim of the hostile U.S. policy towards the DPRK.

I wish all the young people in the United States who are watching this never to allow themselves to be used by the U.S. administration. What I saw during my trip was very different from what is portrayed in the West, where the country is shown as evil. I realized that the human rights issue of the DPRK, as presented by the U.S. government, is just an excuse to attack and harm the lives of the Korean people with the intent of overthrowing their government.

I ask for forgiveness from the Korean people and beg you to see how I was used and manipulated. Please, save my life, I am the oldest son in my family. My family needs me, I made the worst decision of my life, but I am human, and I hope you will forgive me.

I also want to ask the journalists to report this story correctly and help me in any way they can. I fear my family may be threatened by the U.S. government, and I beg for any kind of protection for them. Finally, I plead with the North Korean people to forgive me; I should never have been used by the U.S. government.”

—
END

His Crime

Otto Warmbier was identified through security footage, detained, and brought to trial, which was attended by a defense lawyer, diplomats, and foreign journalists. During the trial, he admitted the facts and apologized for his actions.

In accordance with the country's rule of law, he was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor. In North Korea, there are no conventional prisons; a common method of reeducation for crimes is labor, as it is believed that work strengthens the worker rather than locking him in a cell as a punitive practice. While the sentences include hard labor, such as working in the fields, the exact nature of the activities he would perform was not disclosed.

Crimes he could be charged with:

North Korean penal code

Article 63 (Espionage)

A non-citizen of the Republic who detects, collects, or transmits secrets with the intent of espionage against the Republic shall be punished with labor for more than five years and less than ten years. In cases where the person commits a serious offense, they shall be punished with labor for more than ten years.

Article 69 (Aggression against the Korean nation)

A foreign citizen who, with hostile intentions against the Korean nation, violates the freedom or property of a Korean national residing or staying abroad, or a national, shall be punished with labor for more than five years and less than ten years. In cases where the person commits a serious offense, they shall be punished with labor for more than ten years.

The North Korean penal code considers it a mitigating factor when a criminal surrenders and regrets their crime. Although Otto expressed regret for his actions in his statement, he was caught. In this case, it is unlikely that his sentence would be reduced despite his good conduct.

Otto admitted to entering a restricted area and stealing something he considered a national symbol. It wasn’t a poster stuck on the street, as we see in abundance on Western streets in the form of propaganda.

The poster he destroyed is typically found in workplaces where the country's leader has visited. It contains an inspirational phrase related to that specific job and function.

What he did is the same as going to another country, burning its flag, and demolishing and attacking national symbols. But not only that, despite doing this naively, he was carrying out an act of espionage, invasion, and theft.

A sentence like this in a country like the United States would be 30 years in prison or possibly even death.

Some conspiracy theorists, trying to distort the reality, suggest that Otto’s statement was made under coercion due to his posture in court. But in truth, it is clear that, as a young adult, he was having a reality check, seeing his promising future slip away after a foolish act. His intent to evoke sympathy and pity from his North Korean audience is clear.

But that’s all there is to it. As a foreigner, you just need to filter out his desperate appeal for sympathy, and his statement becomes much more serious and emblematic.

When you’re told this story of Otto, they want you to believe he was just walking down the street, found a piece of paper, and ended up getting arrested. But that’s not true.

Anyway, here’s the video from the security cameras of the restricted area of the building:

The Fetish of Americans and Westerners Going to North Korea to Commit Crimes

Due to the overwhelming amount of anti-communist propaganda, it has become somewhat of a fetish for Americans to want to be arrested in North Korea to "see what it's like." This was the case with Matthew Todd Miller, who went to North Korea with the sole and exclusive goal of being arrested. As soon as he entered the country, he tore up his visa and declared himself a spy.

Although the authorities of the country tried to deport him, he refused and continued to cause trouble until he was arrested. In an interview with the AP, he described his experience of being arrested in the country, how the conditions were in a labor camp, and after realizing it wasn’t anything extraordinary, he begged the U.S. authorities to help secure his release.

It is situations like these that North Koreans are exposed to because of the orientalistic and racist madness of anti-communist propaganda against the country.

His Health and Death

After being arrested, Warmbier suffered health complications. Medical reports from North Korea indicated that he was suffering from botulism and complications from the use of medication. Throughout his time in custody, North Korean authorities claimed that Warmbier received adequate medical care, addressing his needs, including medication for insomnia, which he had requested.

However, his condition worsened, and he fell into a coma. He was then transferred to the Friendship Hospital, which is responsible for treating tourists, diplomats, and other foreigners in the country. This situation was communicated to the U.S. government.

Considering the severity of his condition, North Korea decided to release him as a humanitarian gesture. They aimed to avoid any potential tragedy that could be exploited for political purposes. Even in such a delicate situation, the DPRK sought to act in a way that minimized international repercussions, despite facing constant, unjust accusations of human rights violations.

A few days after his return to the United States, Otto Warmbier passed away. American doctors monitoring his condition stated that, while the exact cause of his death was unclear, it was evident that it resulted from a lack of oxygen to the brain, likely due to the medication he had been taking regularly. This theory aligns with the medical reports from North Korea.

Furthermore, the doctors emphasized that no signs of fractures, injuries, cuts, or marks were found on Otto's body, nor any evidence of torture, contradicting media speculations. "His skin was in good condition, and he was well-fed when he arrived at our unit," said Dr. Kanter, one of the doctors responsible for his care.

Controversy Over Alleged Torture

The Hamilton County coroner, Lakshmi Sammarco, has contested statements made by Fred and Cindy Warmbier to Fox & Friends, claiming that their son, Otto Warmbier, was tortured during his captivity in North Korea.

Fred Warmbier had stated to Fox: "It looked like someone had taken pliers and rearranged his lower teeth."

In response, Sammarco said during a press conference that there was "no evidence of trauma to his lower teeth," according to a forensic dentist. She noted that extensive medical imaging and a CT scan showed that Warmbier's body was in excellent condition for someone bedridden for a year.

However, Warmbier did have extensive brain damage and was using a feeding tube when he returned to the United States earlier that year.

Sammarco explained that the Warmbiers had opened the door with their Fox & Friends interview to discuss whether there were any external signs that Otto had been tortured while imprisoned in North Korea. This prompted her to hold the press conference.

"They are grieving parents, and I really can't comment on their perception," Sammarco said. "All I can say is that here in this office, we rely on science for our conclusions."

wosu.org/news/2017-09-2…

Was he tortured?

There is no evidence of torture. It is easy for doctors to make this determination, but despite the relentless search for a statement about torture, the media only obtained inconclusive statements from doctors. They said there were no signs of torture but could confirm this more precisely if an autopsy had been conducted. However, Otto's family did not allow the procedure, citing religious reasons.

Following this, Otto’s family, particularly his father and mother, went public to contradict the doctors and claim that their son had been tortured (even though there was no proof), being treated in a "inhumane and unforgivable" manner. They continued with their activism, pushing for more sanctions and embargos to be imposed on North Korea.

We don't know if this movement made by Otto's parents was due to threats from the American bourgeoisie/state, or if it was driven by financial interests, such as the Church denounced by Otto, which would pay $200,000 to Otto's parents if he were caught, or by another figure who may have appeared later.

But regardless of this, their behavior tarnishes the public wishes and frustrations of their own son.

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