So, I am sure many people have already heard about the American college student who was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in North Korea this past Wed., March 16, 2016. If not, this is a major headline that could impact a lot of international relations so you should read up!
The student, Otto Warmbier, age 21, is from Cincinnati, Ohio, and is an undergraduate student at the University of Virginia. He was arrested for trying to steal a piece of North Korean propaganda out of his hotel in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang on Jan. 2, 2016. The U.S. government has made announcements condemning the actions of the North Korean regime.
This all comes at a time of high tensions between North Korea and the U.S. government over North Korea's nuclear activity. Warmbier is not the first American as of late to be held and charged by North Korean authorities. The U.S. State Department is advising that citizens do not travel there, as they have for while, though it is not illegal to do so as it was previously in places like Cuba.
The Obama Administration has announced new sanctions "against North Korean officials and a range of industries in the country, including the shipping, mining, energy and financial service sectors." They are stating that this is part of the continuous pressure they have been putting on North Korea.
Right now there is a hope that Warmbier will be released back on "humanitarian grounds," and Phil Robertson, the Deputy Asia Director for Human Rights Watch, believes that the sentence will be commuted as this is probably a show of strength and power on the part of the North Korean government.
The Obama Administration is also demanding the release of Warmbier. "White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest accused North Korea of using 'U.S. citizens as pawns to pursue a political agenda.'”
I don't know what would possess someone to go to North Korea during these tensions or why one would risk getting arrested and detained for stealing propaganda, but it is scary to think about how young Warmbier is and so close in age to myself. What if something like this happened to one of my classmates?
Warmbier was broadcasted out of North Korea apologizing for what he called "the worst mistake of his life." His sentencing took one hour, one hour to decide his future in the North Korean Supreme Court.
Hopefully the U.S. government will be able to arrange for his release, but this is a cautionary tale. Think when you are traveling: Where are you going, what is the political climate and what choices could you make that will forever impact your life. Be aware and be safe!
