North Korea sentences U.S. student to hard labor;Washington condemns punishment

[Gerald]

North Korea's supreme court sentenced American student Otto Warmbier, who was arrested while visiting the country, to 15 years of hard labor on Wednesday for crimes against the state, a punishment Washington condemned as politically motivated.

The U.S. State Department called the sentence "unduly harsh" and White House spokesman Josh Earnest said it was "increasingly clear" that North Korea sought to use U.S. citizens as pawns to pursue a political agenda.

Warmbier, a 21-year-old University of Virginia student, was detained in January for trying to steal an item bearing a propaganda slogan from his hotel in Pyongyang, North Korean media said previously.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-usa-student-idUSKCN0WI0BN

A harsh penalty for such a young man, perhaps he may appeal.


Note: 2016-03-18

[GoldenRivet]

I don't currently - and may never - understand why these Liberal artsy-fartsy types feel it necessary to visit North Korea. Especially if they have poor impulse control like this kid does. I mean seriously, try to steal a political sign in a country that routinely executes people for mundane minor offenses? How stupid can you really be?

I have very little sympathy for him

do i think the punishment is harsh? of course i do

are they just trying to make an example out of a westerner? of course they are

would he have gotten into this much trouble anywhere else in the world? save for maybe Iran and one or two other places... probably not

would it have been more reasonable to imprison him for 30 or 60 days and then ban him from the country or something? certainly, yes

but still, he had to know the risks of going to NK, he surely knew that the country was a hell hole... like i said, no sympahty "bra" take your licks and leave it up to the diplomats to yank your arse out of the fire you created.

if they can

otherwise, see you in 15 years if you dont die of malnutrition before then

[Reece]

It should be illegal to go there, is it actually marked as a tourist spot?:hmmm:
If so what airline would actually go there?:doh:

[d@rk51d3]

It should be illegal to go there, is it actually marked as a tourist spot?:hmmm:
If so what airline would actually go there?:doh:

Probably fly to China and walk in.

[Oberon]

It should be illegal to go there, is it actually marked as a tourist spot?:hmmm:
If so what airline would actually go there?:doh:

Like this:

http://www.m1key.me/photography/road_to_north_korea/

http://www.m1key.me/photography/ostensibly_ordinary_pyongyang/

[Reece]

What a horrible place to visit let alone to live, and trying to escape to China is definitely a no no!!:timeout:
I do feel sorry for the citizens there.:oops:

[Commander Wallace]

I don't currently - and may never - understand why these Liberal artsy-fartsy types feel it necessary to visit North Korea. Especially if they have poor impulse control like this kid does. I mean seriously, try to steal a political sign in a country that routinely executes people for mundane minor offenses? How stupid can you really be?

I have very little sympathy for him

do i think the punishment is harsh? of course i do

are they just trying to make an example out of a westerner? of course they are

would he have gotten into this much trouble anywhere else in the world? save for maybe Iran and one or two other places... probably not

would it have been more reasonable to imprison him for 30 or 60 days and then ban him from the country or something? certainly, yes

but still, he had to know the risks of going to NK, he surely knew that the country was a hell hole... like i said, no sympahty "bra" take your licks and leave it up to the diplomats to yank your arse out of the fire you created.

if they can

otherwise, see you in 15 years if you dont die of malnutrition before then

I don't think I can say it any better. The State Dept. has said although travel to North Korea isn't banned, They highly recommend that people of U.S citizenry do not travel there. What do people then do ? They travel to the DPRK which flies in the face of the State Dept. warnings.

https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/north-korea-travel-warning.html

I think the punishment is harsh but also very predictable. At some point in time, one has to be responsible for the decisions they make .

[Betonov]

He'll be there for a few months and then traded for Fat Kims US imported lunch.
But China should do it. If the State dept. says it's on their own risk, the American taxpayer should not bear the cost. But we can't leave him there for a dumb stunt. A murderer ok, let him rot, but a simple moron ?? He suffered more than enough just trough the trial.


Quite a few Slovenes travel to N. Korea, a group per year me thinks and everyoen gets home safely :hmmm:
Maybe there's a larger risk if you're from the US becasue you're a potential propaganda target.

[U505995]

I wonder what kind of hard labor he'll be doing? Baking cake for Kim Jung Un perhaps?:hmmm:

[Jimbuna]

Most stupid of the young man and will probably be used as payment for a shipment of food or medical aid in a few months time.

[Aktungbby]

Warmbier's confession reads as follows: I never, never should have allowed myself to be lured by the United States administration to commit a crime in this country, I wish that the United States administration never manipulate people like myself in the future to commit crimes against foreign countries. I entirely beg you, the people and government of the DPRK, for your forgiveness. Please! I made the worst mistake of my life!
http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160316&t=2&i=1125215149&w=976&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC2F09DBOW a little lower you idiot! Classic 'showcase Commie trial-lots of press-on hand for this !?? for stealing a 'propaganda' sign off a hotel allegedly: His greed and stupidity led to this. On February 29, 2016, he confessed to stealing a piece of North Korean propaganda from his hotel's staff-only section to take back to the United States (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States) as a "trophy" for someone from his home-town church who offered to pay him for it with the gift of a car worth $10,000. OR his basketball skills were sub par:http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02496/kim-smile_2496689k.jpg

[Skybird]

Why spending a voluntary visit to NK in the first...? There are innocent places, then there are potentially riskful places where the risk within certain limits "can be calculated", and then there are places were nothing can be predicted and taken for sure. NK is one place of this latter category. If you have no damn good reason, a real substantial need to go there - don't.

[Rockin Robbins]

I'll bet the poor kid is just a bargaining chip for something the NKs want.

If they were smart they would have let him take the propoganda. They should have OFFERED it to him. What good is propoganda if it doesn't seek a wider audience?

Then again, he should have asked and used that logic as a persuasion tool. But in the final analysis, if the NKs want to take a hostage to use as a bargaining (or poker) chip they can use any excuse they want.

[Nippelspanner]

I don't currently - and may never - understand why these Liberal artsy-fartsy types feel it necessary to visit North Korea. Especially if they have poor impulse control like this kid does. I mean seriously, try to steal a political sign in a country that routinely executes people for mundane minor offenses? How stupid can you really be?

I have very little sympathy for him

do i think the punishment is harsh? of course i do

are they just trying to make an example out of a westerner? of course they are

would he have gotten into this much trouble anywhere else in the world? save for maybe Iran and one or two other places... probably not

would it have been more reasonable to imprison him for 30 or 60 days and then ban him from the country or something? certainly, yes

but still, he had to know the risks of going to NK, he surely knew that the country was a hell hole... like i said, no sympahty "bra" take your licks and leave it up to the diplomats to yank your arse out of the fire you created.

if they can

otherwise, see you in 15 years if you dont die of malnutrition before then
Really?
He deserves 15 years of hard labor in a country that hates him and ultimately will ruin his life one way or another, because he is an idiot who underestimated what could happen and stole a stupid banner?

[Bera]

I wonder what kind of hard labor he'll be doing? Baking cake for Kim Jung Un perhaps?:hmmm:

Unfortunately, no. He will probably die doing soviet-style hard labour, like mining or cutting logs.

Kudos to Bill Clinton. He went to North Corea and came back with those two american girls that were convicted some years ago. I think he deserved a prize or a medal for this.

[AVGWarhawk]

Hot spot destinations on my list does not and will never include North Korea.

I think the penalty is way out of line. Then again, he was not put in front a firing squad. That is always a possibility. :-?

[Aktungbby]

Unfortunately, no. He will probably die doing soviet-style hard labour, like mining or cutting logs.

Kudos to Bill Clinton. He went to North Corea and came back with those two american girls that were convicted some years ago. I think he deserved a prize or a medal for this.
Wait a bit: President Hillary will send her Bubba on just such another good-will trip just to keep him outta the oval office!:woot:

[Bera]

Wait a bit: President Hillary will send her Bubba on just such another good-will trip just to keep him outta the oval office!:woot:


Well, I hope the kid doesn´t starve to death until Hillary is in Office!

[GoldenRivet]

Really?
He deserves 15 years of hard labor in a country that hates him and ultimately will ruin his life one way or another, because he is an idiot who underestimated what could happen and stole a stupid banner?

Well, with due respect, I present you with a challenge, it's very simple:

1. Quote here where I used the term "he deserves it"

2. Quote here where I said I think the punishment is harsh

3. Quote here where I said that it is now up to diplomats to fix it

Then re-evaluate your comment

[Nippelspanner]

You said you have "very little sympathy" for him.
I interpreted it as in "well deserved idiot!".
My bad.

[GoldenRivet]

I have little sympathy for the guy. This much is true. I really don't.

The guy went to a foreign country known for its harsh hand at criminal justice and he showed his ass. That's his fault. Nobody else's. Does he "deserve" 15 years hard labor? Like I said, no.

Was he an idiot who has created an international diplomatic mess? Yup!

he deserves punishment, not 15 years, but theft of any kind, no matter how cute and jovial the circumstances may be perceived by the perpetrator, is still theft.

He acted without any thought as to the consequences. This is his fault. Nobody else's.

[Dowly]

I agree with GR. I see the guy as the same as those idiots who go sailing near the Somali coast and then get captured by pirates. I just don't get it. :dead:

[Nippelspanner]

I agree, as I said, I completely misunderstood that one line.
Haven't slept in a while, sorry. :doh:

[GoldenRivet]

I agree, as I said, I completely misunderstood that one line.
Haven't slept in a while, sorry. :doh:
:salute:
all good my man

[GT182]

Didn't he try to steal a Government banner hanging somewhere he wasn't supposed to be? I thought I'd heard it was in a government building.

I have no sympathy for him at all. You don't try and steal something... anything.... in a foreign country that hates the US of A. Especially N. Korea where our government says NOT to go. Maybe 15 years is too harsh but he still deserves punishment. It could have been far worse. Like relative and Generals in front of a firing squad for doing far less than he did. Seeing where he's stuck for a long while I'd say he's very lucky to be alive..... if he survives their hard labor.

I bet that when he gets out he won't be going back to that church, or "that someone's house".

[Platapus]

The good news is that he probably won't serve more than a few years. The bad news is that our government will have to go over and save his sorry butt and you can just bet this will effect some of the negotiations that are ongoing.

I wonder if there will come a point when our government decides to make an example?

I truly do not understand why any American would want to visit NK. :nope:

I don't think they like us much.

[GoldenRivet]

not only that platapus but the meat it has provided for their propaganda machine. You know that Kim Jong Un is probably watching replay after replay of this crying, pitiful American man boy and televising that footage over and over again likely citing that this is how all Americans are.

[mapuc]

For some of the candidate in the American Presidential election this could perhaps not have come more perfect
(not the word I had in mind, but I forgot it)

Maybe we will See some of the candidate do a "Jesse" and get him free and thereby earn some extra votes

Markus

[Platapus]

Just like those idiots who were hiking and got lost in Iran.

People need to understand how their actions can adversely affect their country.

It is not just about them. :nope:

[Cybermat47]

Hot spot destinations on my list does not and will never include North Korea.

I think the penalty is way out of line. Then again, he was not put in front a firing squad. That is always a possibility. :-?

I think he would prefer a firing squad... North Korean prisons can be summed up with three words.

Rape is legal.

[August]

Just like those idiots who were hiking and got lost in Iran.

People need to understand how their actions can adversely affect their country.

It is not just about them. :nope:

Unfortunately in the society we've created nearly all their experiences from cradle to that point says it really is about them. Shielded from danger, from failure, from every adversity or disadvantage, the precious little snowflakes aren't given enough reason to know better until they become "adults" and find out that doesn't work in the real world.

[GoldenRivet]

I call them "The Blue Ribbon Generation" - no matter their efforts they always get the blue ribbon

I remember when i was 8 or 9 years old we had a field day track meet... you raced. you got first, second, third, fourth and fifth place ribbons. after fifth you got sweaty or winded... but thats it.

now they all are winners and are all special just for showing up and whining about the heat

[Aktungbby]

we had a field day track meet... you raced. you got first, second, third, fourth and fifth place ribbons. after fifth you got sweaty or winded... but thats it.

now they all are winners and are all special just for showing up and whining about the heat
REALLY NICE play on words! :up: Heat:a. Sports & Games One round of several in a competition, such as a race. b. A preliminary contest held to determine finalists.:know:

[Cybermat47]

Unfortunately in the society we've created nearly all their experiences from cradle to that point says it really is about them. Shielded from danger, from failure, from every adversity or disadvantage, the precious little snowflakes aren't given enough reason to know better until they become "adults" and find out that doesn't work in the real world.

I call them "The Blue Ribbon Generation" - no matter their efforts they always get the blue ribbon

I remember when i was 8 or 9 years old we had a field day track meet... you raced. you got first, second, third, fourth and fifth place ribbons. after fifth you got sweaty or winded... but thats it.

now they all are winners and are all special just for showing up and whining about the heat

I agree, (honestly anyone who raises their child like that should be locked up) but I'm not sure how it applies here.

I mean, I don't really see anything special snowflake about him. Special snowflakes just whine about minor things that don't hurt them. To use a few examples I've had to experience, "I don't watch Star Wars, stop talking about it", "stop being gay, that's weird" (that particular gem came from a guy who wouldn't stop whining about everything, especially his parents, so in his case I don't blame them at all) "if you believe in God, we can't be friends anymore," that sort of minor stuff. Gets on my nerves.

Yeah, the guy's crying, but if you were told that you'd been sentenced to 15 years in a jail where the guards are allowed to rape you, just for committing a minor crime (actually, I wouldn't be surprised if he's innocent and the NK authorities framed him because he's American), wouldn't you be just a bit under the weather?

As for visiting North Korea, pretty stupid thing to do, but I'm reserving judgement until I know why he visited. If he wanted to see just how bad things really were, or if the Museum of the Construction of the Museum of the Construction of the Museum of Culture actually exists, that's understandable (but a pretty stupid way to go about it). If he visited because he thought North Korea sounded like a great place, then I think he needs another education :doh:

And a slap or ten.

Yes, North Korea has a museum about the building of another museum, which was itself about the construction of a third museum. In unrelated news, people have very little to eat in North Korea. I wonder why?

[darkone999]

You do not go drop bombs in the outhouse on a hot summer day no matter how bad u have to go when it is full of hornet nests..Learned that lesson in 1969 at my great grandmas house when I was four years old and I was warned ahead of time..Better to go in the woods or the bucket..That was a very simple but real life lesson..:/\\!!

[Cybermat47]

Ouch, how bad were the stings?

[U505995]

Unfortunately, no. He will probably die doing soviet-style hard labour, like mining or cutting logs.

Kudos to Bill Clinton. He went to North Corea and came back with those two american girls that were convicted some years ago. I think he deserved a prize or a medal for this.
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/140828124023-kim-jong-un-state-chorus-story-top.jpg
Look at his face, then look at his belly. Baking enough cake to keep this guy fed for 15 years is hard labour if I have ever seen it.

[Platapus]

Unfortunately in the society we've created nearly all their experiences from cradle to that point says it really is about them. Shielded from danger, from failure, from every adversity or disadvantage, the precious little snowflakes aren't given enough reason to know better until they become "adults" and find out that doesn't work in the real world.

I certainly don't want our society to become a collective, but a little collectivism is a good thing. I am both an individual and part of my society. Each one of those has privileges and responsibilities.

Many people like to focus on the privileges, but the responsibilities are also important. Like many things in life, there is a compromise between "I" and "we" in life.

I call them "The Blue Ribbon Generation" - no matter their efforts they always get the blue ribbon

I remember when i was 8 or 9 years old we had a field day track meet... you raced. you got first, second, third, fourth and fifth place ribbons. after fifth you got sweaty or winded... but thats it.

now they all are winners and are all special just for showing up and whining about the heat


Yeah, you are right. I remember when The Frau's kid moved out (the first time) she had a closet full of these huge bowling trophies. They were massive in size and quantity. She bowled on the team for less than two years. And you know what, she did not really care about the trophies. Into the recycling they went.

I look at my library and I have one trophy. Just one, a small wooden one. But it was when I came in second place at the LA Scholastic Chess Open about a hundred years ago. But I treasure that trophy.

1. I truly earned it.
2. In my generation (aka old guy) we did not get trophies so it was truly something special.

[darkone999]

Platapus said
"I certainly don't want our society to become a collective, but a little collectivism is a good thing. I am both an individual and part of my society. Each one of those has privileges and responsibilities"

Tim says
Just as our founders intended..People forget we all our individuals with the same rights to protect our person from the oppression of others but we also have a responsibility to the common good so we may protect those rights and privileges for the future generations to enjoy. It is this almost perfect balance between the common good and Individualism that separates our great Constitution from all others in history.It is our responsibility to maintain this balance the best we can.

peace :know:

[Nippelspanner]

Unfortunately in the society we've created nearly all their experiences from cradle to that point says it really is about them. Shielded from danger, from failure, from every adversity or disadvantage, the precious little snowflakes aren't given enough reason to know better until they become "adults" and find out that doesn't work in the real world.
http://i.imgur.com/uoCCfoA.jpg