North Korea sought $3m from US for captured American Otto Warmbier

North Korea sought $3m in medical costs before it released US student Otto Warmbier.

American student Otto Warmbier, centre, is escorted at the Supreme Court in Pyongyang, North Korea in 2016.

North Korea reportedly insisted the US agree to pay $US2 million ($2.9m) in medical costs in 2017 before it released detained American college student Otto Warmbier while he was in a coma, according to a report published today.

The Washington Post reported that Joseph Yun, a US envoy sent to North Korea to retrieve the 21-year-old student, signed an agreement to pay the $US2m on instructions passed down from President Donald Trump. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly.

The bill went to the Treasury Department, where it remained — unpaid — throughout 2017, the newspaper said. It is unclear whether the Trump administration later paid the bill, or whether it came up during preparations for Mr Trump’s two summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said the administration does not comment on hostage negotiations. US policy is to refuse to pay ransom for the release of Americans detained abroad.

While the majority of Americans detained by North Korea have been released in relatively good condition, Warmbier, a student at the University of Virginia, died in June last year shortly after he was flown home comatose after 17 months in captivity.

US student Otto Frederick Warmbier, who was arrested for committing hostile acts against North Korea, speaking at a press conference in Pyongyang.

Warmbier was seized from a tour group while visiting North Korea in January 2016 and convicted on charges of trying to steal a propaganda poster and sentenced to 15 years of hard labour.

North Korea, which has denied accusations by relatives that it tortured Warmbier, has said he was provided “medical treatments and care with all sincerity.” Senator Rob Portman, R-Ohio, said the United States doesn’t owe North Korea anything.

“Otto Warmbier was mistreated by North Korea in so many ways, including his wrongful conviction and harsh sentence, and the fact that for 16 months they refused to tell his family or our country about his dire condition they caused,” Senator Portman said. “No, the United States owes them nothing. They owe the Warmbier family everything.”

Parents Fred and Cindy Warmbier are from suburban Cincinnati, Ohio. Robert Lewis, a spokesman for the law firm that filed suit against North Korea on behalf of the Warmbier family, declined to comment.

Mr Yun told CNN that he could not discuss details of his diplomatic discussions. He said his orders from Mr Trump were to “do whatever” he could to get Warmbier back.

Asked if it would be unusual for the US to pay medical costs of detainees, Mr Yun said: “There was some expectation the North Koreans might raise hospital costs.” He said that in past instances not involving Warmbier “some money could have been handed over, yes.”

AP

Parents of Otto Warmbier, Fred and Cindy Warmbier are acknowledged during the State of the Union address in the chamber of the US House of Representatives last year.