https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Warmbier

"Warmbier's confession also stated that he had plotted to steal the poster at the behest of a Methodist church in his hometown and the Z Society, a secret society at the University of Virginia that he wished to join, both of which he said were allied with the Central Intelligence Agency."

Z society seems to be a cabal institution.

He was also part of a group called Hillel.

"Warmbier's mother is Jewish, and Otto was active in Hillel on his college campus"

I wonder whether it actually happened at all or whether he was set up and baited into it. The purpose was obviously to generate tension.