An American judge has ruled that Kim Jong Un’s North Korean regime must pay $501 million to the parents of Otto Warmbier after their son died following his time spent in captivity there.
The ruling Monday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia is largely symbolic, though, as it is unlikely North Korea hands over any cash. It comes after Warmbier’s parents sued the Hermit Kingdom for more than $1 billion.
“North Korea is liable for the torture, hostage taking, and extrajudicial killing of Otto Warmbier, and the injuries to his mother and father, Fred and Cindy Warmbier,” Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell wrote in the ruling
The college student from Ohio was on a tour in North Korea when he allegedly stole a propaganda sign from a hotel. He was arrested in January 2016 and held captive for more than 17 months.
Warmbier died from severe brain damage after he was repatriated to the U.S. in June 2017. He was 22. – READ MORE