American student arrested to be dead in North Korea

Very recently, an American student was victimized by North Korean force.

Otto Warmbier was a 21-year-old student at the University of Virginia. He was arrested by the police in North Korea for "hostile acts against the state," according to the North Korean authority. Actually, he was said to have attempted to pilfer a propaganda poster. He was sentenced to 15 years forced labor.

And recently, the North Korea released him to the US because he became unconscious. At the time he was moved to the US hospital, he was in the coma state. North Korea said it was due to contracting botulism and taking a sleeping pill. Finally, he died without recovering the consciousness.

The Washington Post: North Korea’s outrageous mistreatment of a U.S. student must not go unpunished

It is not surprising that the US media condemn North Korea. But, there are multiple points of view to be considered.

First of all, the report of North Korea is far from trustworthy. Many people, including me, suspect he was tortured to be dead in North Korea. It is rare botulism toxin and a sleeping pill takes a life of a healthy young man.

Second, even if he committed a crime in North Korea, I never believe his act deserves to 15 years imprisonment. But, there are considerable variations in the penal legislation among nations. We have to respect each country's culture unless it is insulting other people's right. And the human right is a concept more complicated than it looks.

And finally, I wonder why he was released. I do not believe the official report of North Korea that it was decided according to a humanitarian point of view. I would have been not surprised if North Korea had concealed the full facts and had reported that he was missing. Therefore, North Korea considered that it would be advantageous to release him. His fatal damage was not planned for North Korea, perhaps.

Anyway, I pray for Otto. And I hope there will never be next victims.