Page 25 - MIN ON 23 JAN 2016

U.S. NEWS A3
Saturday 23 January 2016

US student held in North Korea, little information released

Small American flags have been placed in the trees in front of a skilled soccer player. Wy- tainees. “You have to be ington, Seoul and their al-
the Warmbier family home, Friday, Jan. 22, 2016, in Wyoming, oming City Schools spokes- careful what you say.” lies to slap Pyongyang with
Ohio. North Korea on Friday announced the arrest of Otto Warm- woman Susanna Max said Tepe said Fowle is “doing tough sanctions for a re-
bier, a university student from Ohio, for what it called a “hostile Warmbier was the saluta- wonderful” and seems to cent nuclear test.
act” orchestrated by the American government to undermine torian of his 2013 graduat- have adjusted well to life North Korea has occasion-
the authoritarian nation. ing class in the highly rated at his home near Dayton. ally announced the ar-
public high school. Fowle, a married father of rests of foreign detainees
(AP Photo/Gary Landers) An attorney who represent- three, attends church regu- in times of tension with the
ed Fowle in 2014 advised larly with his family and re- outside world in an appar-
caution for those involved turned to a job in the city ent attempt to wrest con-
with the student. of Moraine’s street depart- cessions or diplomatic ma-
“They (North Korea) kind ment, Tepe said. neuvering room. North Ko-
of trickle information out, Fowle said in 2014 he had rea also regularly accuses
but what’s actually go- left a Bible in a North Ko- Washington and Seoul of
ing on can be very differ- rean nightclub in hopes it sending spies to overthrow
ent,” Lebanon attorney would reach underground its government to enable
Timothy Tepe said, adding Christians. the U.S.-backed South Ko-
he learned North Korean North Korea’s announce- rean government to con-
authorities monitor reports ment Friday comes amid a trol the entire Korean Pen-
and comments about de- diplomatic push by Wash- insula. q

DAN SEWELL bier’s immediate release
Associated Press and keep (his) family con-
CINCINNATI (AP) — Officials stantly apprised.” Kasich
in North Korea and the U.S. said North Korea should
released little information either provide evidence of
Friday about a university alleged anti-state activi-
student from Ohio who was ties or immediately release
detained for what the au- Warmbier. The U.S. Depart-
thoritarian nation called a ment of State said it was
“hostile act.” “aware of media reports
Otto Warmbier is the sec- that a U.S. citizen was de-
ond person from southwest tained in North Korea.” A
Ohio to be detained in China-based tour com-
North Korea in less than two pany specializing in travel
years. A Dayton-area man, to North Korea, Young Pio-
Jeffrey Fowle, was held for neer Tours, confirmed that
nearly six months in 2014. one of its customers, identi-
North Korea’s state media fied only as Otto, had been
said the University of Vir- detained in Pyongyang,
ginia student entered the the North’s capital, but
country under the guise provided no other details.
of a tourist and plotted Social media accounts for
against North Korean unity Warmbier show interests in
with “the tacit connivance finance, travel and rap mu-
of the U.S. government and sic. Warmbier is majoring in
under its manipulation.” economics with a minor in
The date of his arrest was global sustainability and
unclear, as were any de- was on the dean’s list.
tails of what he did. A professor at the univer-
Ohio Gov. John Kasich, sity’s school of commerce,
campaigning in New Jeremy Marcel, called
Hampshire as a Republican Warmbier “a very intel-
presidential candidate, ligent, wonderful young
called the arrest “inexcus- man.” A Theta Chi frater-
able.” His Columbus office nity brother, Miles Kirwin,
released a letter he sent to added, “He’s an incredible
President Barack Obama, guy.” Warmbier was a top
urging his Democratic ad- student at his high school in
ministration to “make every a northern Cincinnati sub-
effort to secure Mr. Warm- urb and was described as