The tour operator that hosted the late Otto Warmbier has
decided to stop organizing tours to North Korea for U.S. citizens.
The 22-year-old Warmbier had been visiting North Korea last
year with Young Pioneer Tours when he was arrested and sentenced to 15 years of
hard labor for subversion after attempting to remove a propaganda poster from a
hotel, news agencies have reported. He was held for more than 17 months, and
was released by North Korea last week. He was in a coma when he was released
and he died on Monday.
"The devastating loss of Otto Warmbier's life has led
us to reconsider our position on accepting American tourists. There had not
been any previous detainment in North Korea that has ended with such tragic
finality, and we have been struggling to process the result. Now, the
assessment of risk for Americans visiting North Korea has become too high,"
Young Pioneer Tours wrote in a statement on its website.
The company added, "The way his detention was handled
was appalling, and a tragedy like this must never be repeated. ... There has
still been almost no information disclosed about his period in detention.
Considering these facts and this tragic outcome, we will no longer be
organizing tours for U.S. citizens to North Korea."
Two other tour operators that organize tours to North Korea
said they are reevaluating if they will continue bringing U.S. travelers to the
country.
"The way his detention was handled was appalling, and a tragedy like this must never be repeated." -- Young Pioneer Tours
"This young man did not deserve the disproportionate
sentence given to him, and what followed was a disgrace, which we categorically
condemn," Beijing-based Koryo Group said in a statement. The company also
offers tours to Russia, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Mongolia.
Koryo Group added that it has been discussing the matter
with its Korean travel partners and the foreign organizations in Pyongyang with
which it works.
"We continue to take all steps necessary to ensure
those who travel with us are fully aware of the risks involved and have all the
information they need," the company stated.
Uri Tours, another North Korea specialist, said that it,
too, is reviewing its policy on hosting American tourists.