North Korea Sentences UVa. Student Otto Warmbier to 15 Years in Prison

Mar 16, 2016 - 07:55
Mar 16, 2016 - 08:00
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North Korea Sentences UVa. Student Otto Warmbier to 15 Years in Prison
American student Otto Warmbier is escorted at the Supreme Court in Pyongyang in the secretive state

North Korea's highest court has sentenced an American tourist who allegedly attempted to steal a propaganda banner from a restricted area of his hotel to 15 years of hard labor in prison.

Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old University of Virginia undergraduate student, was convicted and sentenced in a one-hour trial Wednesday moing at the North's Supreme Court. He was charged with subversion.

No further details were immediately available.

Warmbier was arrested in early January as he tried to leave the country after visiting as a tourist with a New Year's tour group.

In a statement made before his trial, he told a gathering of reporters in Pyongyang he wanted the banner \"as a trophy\" for the mother of a friend.

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Mike Gallagher Mike Gallagher is a Georgia-based freelance journalist covering local news, community developments, and regional issues that matter most to residents across the state. Writing for Georgianewsday.com since 2016, Mike has built a reputation for clear, balanced reporting and a strong connection to the communities he serves. His work spans city council decisions, school board updates, small business features, public safety reports, and statewide policy changes. In addition to local coverage, Mike occasionally reports on state politics and national headlines, offering readers context on how broader decisions impact Georgia communities. Known for his steady, fact-driven approach, Mike prioritizes accuracy, fairness, and accessibility in every story. Whether covering a town hall meeting or breaking political developments, he aims to inform readers with clarity and integrity. Outside the newsroom, Mike remains actively engaged in Georgia’s civic landscape, always seeking the next story that shapes the state’s future.