The parents of a University of Virginia student who was detained in North Korea said they are “very happy” with Trump’s statement that he would be “honored” to meet with Kim Jong-un.
Otto Warmbier was a 21-year-old economics major when he was detained in North Korea during a January study abroad trip. Warmbier was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for allegedly stealing a propaganda sign from a local hotel.
The student’s parents joined Pamela Brown on CNN’s “Newsroom” Monday afternoon to discuss President Trump’s recent comments about possibly meeting with North Korean president Kim Jong-un.
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“I want to first get your reaction, Fred [Warmbier], to President Trump saying that he would be ‘honored’ to meet with the controversial North Korean leader,” Brown said.
“Cindy and I are encouraged by this,” Warmbier said, perhaps rather unexpectedly. “Our mission is to bring our son home.”
“President Trump’s willingness to focus on the big picture, the relationship between the United States and North Korea, anything he can do toward improving that and also including Otto in the solution…I think is good for Otto,” he explained.
“Honestly I think it’s gonna be good for our country,” Warmbier continued. “We’re very happy about this.”