North Korea Detains American Student for a ‘Hostile Act’

The North Korean state news media said on Friday that the country has detained an American student for an alleged 'hostile act' against the DPRK, which stands for the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea.

The University of Virginia student from Cincinnati, Ohio, Otto Frederick Warmbier, 21, was arrested on Jan. 2 in Pyongyang, the Young Pioneer Tours, which organized the trip Warmbier was on, revealed. The Chinese based travel company advertises "budget tours to destinations your mother would rather you stayed away from," according to its website.

Young Pioneer Tours released this statement:

"We can confirm that the reports that one of our clients is being detained in Pyongyang are true. Their family have been informed and we are in contact with the Swedish Embassy, (who act as the protecting interest for U.S citizens), who are working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address the case. We are also assisting the U.S Department of State closely with regards to the situation. In the meantime we would appreciate Otto's and his family's privacy being respected and we hope his release can be secured as soon as possible."

The official Korean Central News Agency for the DPRK is accusing Warmbierof visiting North Korea "for the purpose of bringing down the foundation of its single-minded unity at the tacit connivance of the U.S. government." He entered the country via a tourist visa.

"We are aware of media reports that a U.S. citizen was detained in North Korea," deputy spokesman at the State Department, Mark Toner, said Friday reported by the New York Times. "The welfare of U.S. citizens is one of the Department's highest priorities."

The governor of Ohio, John Kasich, has asked for the release of Warmbier.

He tweeted, "North Korea's arrest of an Ohio college student is inexcusable & he should be released & returned immediately."

The state department does not advise tourists to travel to North Korea and had released an advisory in November "to reiterate and highlight the risk of arrest and long-term detention due to the DPRK's inconsistent application of its criminal laws."