The article was originally published by Voice of America and translated by OKN Correspondent.
June 19 is the fifth anniversary of American college student Otto Warmbier’s death, who was detained for an extended period of time in North Korea. Warmbier died six days after being released in a coma.
His mother, Cindy Warmbier, said in a phone call interview with VOA on the 10th that she would continue to remind the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un of her son’s death and warned that he had made a big mistake. She also said she would do everything possible to help North Koreans resist the regime. Young-kwon Kim interviewed Cindy Warmbier.
Reporter) It has been five years since Otto passed away on June 19, 2017. We offer our condolences to your family. (Thank you.) Are there any special events you are preparing for the fifth anniversary?
Cindy Warmbier) We are trying to cooperate with Washington to pass some things (such as bills) on Otto, but nothing yet has been done. Our efforts to cooperate with the Biden administration and the Congress have made no progress.
Reporter) We have members of Congress from Ohio, the Midwest of the country, where you are currently living–do they not show any interest and effort at all?
Cindy Warmbier) They are trying. Congress is also working on it. Rep. Young Kim (who is of Korean descent) is mainly leading. She continues to bring Otto to the Congress’ attention. We also have Senator Robert Portman and Senator Sherrod Brown (who are from Ohio).
Reporter) Do you mean the Biden administration is still not interested yet while some such members of Congress might make a statement on the fifth anniversary?
Cindy Warmbier) Yes, you are right. (I should ask the State Department why) That would be great.
Reporter) You did various things over the five years, such as filing lawsuits against the North Korean regime. Could you explain more specifically?
Cindy Warmbier) The first thing we did was get the US government to re-designate North Korea as a sponsor of terrorism. Since then, travel to North Korea has been illegal for Americans, preventing other citizens from experiencing what happened to Otto. We also won the lawsuit for damages against the North Korean regime. The court ruled that the North Korean regime kidnapped, tortured, and killed Otto. We proved it in the US federal court. After that, we closed an illegal accommodation (“City Hostel”) which was affiliated with the North Korean embassy in Berlin, Germany. The German authorities did not renew the permit for the facility so the North Korean embassy could not make a profit. Illegal activities took place there.
Reporter) You did a lot of things.
Cindy Warmbier) It is also an achievement that some bills related to Otto passed the US Congress. Some sanctions are named after Otto. Additionally, we have continued positive things, such as meeting North Korean defectors and visiting South Korea and Japan to talk to the families of the abductees. We are working to keep people aware of Otto’s story and what the North Korean regime did to him.
Reporter) Do you think the North Korean regime has changed its stance over the past five years?
Cindy Warmbier) What kind of change do you mean? That they are bad? That they are still evil? Of course. The North Korean regime has not changed at all. It has gotten worse–only worse. They did not take care of the people. They did not protect the people from the novel coronavirus. Kim Jong-un only cares about maintaining his power.
Reporter) What do you think about the Biden administration? Are you satisfied with the current North Korea policy?
Cindy Warmbier) I think the policy has become stronger than it used to be. But I think there is still more that can be done to change the North Korean regime’s behavior. The Biden administration’s greatest concern is the nuclear issue. They believe that if we deal with both human rights and nuclear weapons, neither will make progress. However, that is very wrong. Since Kim Jong-un does not care about anyone and anything but himself and his regime, it is hard to succeed unless you see and deal with this holistic picture. We cannot trust them even if the North Korean regime says it will not delay denuclearization. This is because Kim Jong-un is solely concerned with maintaining power. Therefore, we have to help the North Koreans become strong enough to resist (Kim Jong-un). Until then, nothing will change. We must empower the people of North Korea in every way we can. That is something that we are not doing.
Reporter) Even here in Washington, such voices are getting louder. People point out that since Kim Jong-un is not willing to denuclearize, it is necessary to extensively send true outside information to North Korea to open the closed eyes and ears of the people and help them change the country themselves.
Cindy Warmbier) That is right. The “Otto Warmbier Countering North Korean Censorship and Surveillance Act,” which I am trying to pass, is to send more such information to North Korea. That is the only way. I hope the Biden administration will approve it. I believe this is the only way to protect Japan, South Korea, and America from all forms of hostility. We have to let the people of North Korea know that we are not enemies. They must know that their enemy, the enemy of the people, is not the United States, but Kim Jong-un.
Reporter) The “Otto Warmbier Countering North Korean Censorship and Surveillance Act of 2021” you mentioned includes things such as greatly increasing the capacity of the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), an independent organization under the US government, to flow information into North Korea. In particular, the emphasis is on the development of devices to allow North Koreans to enjoy Internet freedom. Some people, however, point out that political decisions are more important than technical issues.
Cindy Warmbier) That is right. That is what I support 100%. That is what my (future) foundation wants to represent. And that is ultimately what I want the Biden Administration to do. Reinforcing the capabilities of the North Korean people through the influx of information to North Korea is the only way to make a difference. By opening information, we can help strengthen the capacity of poor North Korean people who are ignorant of the world and are just trying to survive.
Reporter) Lastly, what message would you like to send to Chairman Kim Jong-un and the North Korean leadership on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of your son’s death?
Cindy Warmbier) What they did to Otto was a mistake. They made a big mistake because they have to deal with an American who will not let the issue just be buried at the bottom of politics. All people are important. Otto is important. His people are important. Everyone is important. You cannot avoid this. And I want to tell the people of North Korea not to give up hope. Do not give up hope. Hope is all you have. You have to long for change. A change will come to set the North Korean people free. (To Kim Jong-un:) I hope you give the people a better life before you go to hell. Set them free.
On the fifth anniversary of the death of American college student Otto Warmbier, who died six days after being released from a coma after being detained for a long time in North Korea, Young-kwon Kim interviewed his mother, Cindy Warmbier who talked about her activities and gave a message to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
