1 of 2
The Link below no longer works and the article has been scrubbed from the web as far as I can tell… however, someone in a forum copied and pasted the article, just as I am doing.
Now with President Trump bringing up Otto Warmbier after his recent visit with Kim Jung-un, it got me to searching again:
“It looks to me like he is interested in staying there. He presents himself as a victim (but) I think he’s simply trying to get the media attention and get the experience of being detained there,” he said.
“He is trying to get as deep into the situation as possible. Maybe he’s curious, maybe he’s doing field work.”
Warmbier’s speech, delivered a month after his arrest, has been watched around the world. In it, he expresses absolute regret.
“I beg that you find it in your hearts to give me forgiveness and allow me to return home to my family. I also beg that journalists accurately and objectively report my story.”
In a second video, Warmbier confessed to his crimes. He labelled himself a “severe criminal” and explained his motivations.
“I committed my crime of taking out the important political slogan from the staff-only area of the Yanggakdo International Hotel, aimed at harming the work ethic and the motivation of the Korean people,” Wambier said.
“After committing my crime against the people and government of the DPR Korea, I was detained. I have been very impressed by the Korean Government’s humanitarian treatment of severe criminals like myself and of their very fair and square legal procedures.
“I understand the severity of my crime and I have no idea what sort of penalty I may face but I am begging to the Korean people and government for my forgiveness and I am praying to the heavens so that I may be returned home to my family.”
‘HE KNOWS A LOT. HE IS NOT NAIVE’
Dr Petrov said Warmbier is smarter than people realise. The Theta Chi fraternity brother is on the university’s Dean’s List for outstanding academic achievement.
“He was in North Korea (twice before), he obviously knew the place. He went to a restricted area, an area a lot of people don’t know exists. He’s not naive, he’s not a victim.”
He said Warmbier knew “more about North Korea than any of America’s previous detainees” and could be trying to find out as much as he can before he’s kicked out of the country.
“He is a victim in the eyes of Americans,” Dr Petrov told news.com.au.
“He’s trying to portray that he’s not a sympathiser but he also wants as much access to the system as possible. A foreigner who knows too much is a threat to the system so he may not stay there long. They may trade him (for a North Korean prisoner in America) but sooner or later they will release him on some conditions.”
http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/australian-national-university-professor-labels-otto-warmbier-a-liar-and-a-convenient-actor/news-story/357f95b68ef5d872b0650c044a6e09fb (No Longer Works…)