The North‘s foreign ministry spokesman also said in comments carried by the official KCNA agency that Warmbier was „a victim of the policy of strategic patience“ of former U.S. President Barack Obama whose government never requested his release.

„The fact that Warmbier died suddenly in less than a week just after his return to the U.S. in his normal state of health indicators is a mystery to us as well,“ the spokesman was quoted by KCNA as saying.