Otto Warmbier’s parents "speak out" after Donald Trump sides with the "evil regime" of Kim Jong-un

"Kim and his evil regime are responsible for . . . inhumanity. No excuses or lavish praise can change that"

By Joseph Neese

Editor in Chief

Published March 1, 2019 12:24PM (EST)

Cindy and Fred Warmbier, parents of Otto Warmbier, an American who died last year, days after his release from captivity in North Korea, wait for a meeting Thursday, May 3, 2018, at the United Nations headquarters. (AP/Frank Franklin II)
Cindy and Fred Warmbier, parents of Otto Warmbier, an American who died last year, days after his release from captivity in North Korea, wait for a meeting Thursday, May 3, 2018, at the United Nations headquarters. (AP/Frank Franklin II)

The family of Otto Warmbier, an American college student who died after being released from a North Korean prison, has issued an official statement on President Donald Trump’s meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un this week.

The Warmbier family officially stated, “We have been respectful during this summit process. Now, we must speak out. Kim and his evil regime are responsible for the death of our son Otto. Kim and his evil regime are responsible for unimaginable cruelty and inhumanity. No excuses or lavish praise can change that.”

In Hanoi, Trump stated that Jong Un denied knowing anything about Otto Warmbier, who was 22 when the student died—and that he saw no reason not to take him at this word.


By Joseph Neese

Joseph Neese is Salon's Editor in Chief. He previously worked for NBC News and MSNBC. You can follow him on Instagram: @josephneese.

MORE FROM Joseph Neese