A U.S. College Student Has Been Released From North Korean Captivity in a Coma

A University of Virginia student who was detained in North Korea after traveling there as a tourist is being sent back to the U.S. today, CNN reports. But the reason he's being released isn't good—he was medically evacuated because he's been in a coma for more than a year.

Warmbier went to North Korea last year with Young Pioneer Tours, a travel group with the motto "Tours to places your mother wants you to stay away from." During his stay with several other Americans, Warmbier took down a pro-North Korean sign from a hallway that, according to The Washington Post, was staff-only. The New York Times reported that he stole the poster to exchange it for a car once he returned to the U.S.

Three days later, when leaving Pyongyang International Airport, Warmbier was arrested for his “hostile acts” and was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor, the Times reported. The U.S. State Department and Humans Rights Watch quickly called for his release, and #FreeOtto stormed social media, but little was done, despite his confession two months later. It was allegedly only shortly after this confession that Warmbier contracted botulism, a potentially fatal disease, and fell into a coma after being given a sleeping pill.

#FreeOtto resurfaced this past May, when Warmbier would have graduated from the University of Virginia. Warmbier's parents said in a statement that they only learned a week ago that their son has been in a coma for over year.

Warmbier's release was announced shortly after NBA star Dennis Rodman arrived in North Korea as part of his frequent “basketball diplomacy” missions to the country.

In an interview with CNN, Rodman said that he planned to “bring sports [there]” and was not intending to make a political statement, and U.S. national security spokesperson Michael Anton also denied the connection between Rodman's visit to North Korea and Warmbier's release.