(Washington, D.C.) _ A Cincinnati native being held in North Korea is headed back in the United States.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson announced Tuesday that North Korea has released Otto Warmbier. Tillerson says that Warmbier is on his way back to the U.S. to be re-united with his family.
The American college student was arrested on January 2016 and then sentenced in March to serve a 15-year prison term with hard labor for alleged acts against the state.
In a statement that The State Department said they secured Warmbier's release at the direction of President Donald Trump. Tillerson also announced that the state department is in continues discussion with North Korea about three other detained Americans Kim Dong Chul, Kim Sang-duk (Tony Kim), Kim Hak-Song.
The announcement comes as former NBA player Dennis Rodman is paying a return visit to North Korea.
Warmbier's parents have told Washington Post that Warmbier received botulism after his trial, that he was in a coma for over a year during his time in North Korea.
Warmbier was student at The University of Virginia when he visited the secluded nation with the travel group Young Pioneer Tours, on January 2, 2016. He was detained at the Pyongyang International Airport and later was seen in a televised tearful public confession to trying to steal a propaganda banner from a staff-only floor in the Yanggakdo International Hotel.
U.S. Senator Rob Portman has issued the following statement after Warmbier's release.
“The Secretary of State has confirmed to me that Otto has been released by North Korea, and is being returned to his family. Fred, Cindy, and the Warmbier family have been remarkably strong throughout this ordeal. Over the last 18 months, they have had to endure more than any family should have to bear. In the days and months ahead, I would urge everyone to continue to lift them up in prayer and to respect their privacy.
“Otto’s detainment and sentence was unnecessary and appalling, and North Korea should be universally condemned for its abhorrent behavior. Otto should have been released from the start. For North Korea to imprison Otto with no notification or consular access for more than a year is the utmost example of its complete failure to recognize fundamental human rights and dignity.
“We still have three Americans who are being held unjustly by North Korea. They should be released immediately.”