Ex U.S.-N. Korea envoy says Trump approved US$2 mil. fee to free Warmbier
- 5 years ago
Former U.S. State Department Special Representative for North Korea, Joseph Yun, says HE's the one who signed an agreement to pay North Korea two million U.S. dollars for Otto Warmbier's release.
Speaking to CNN on Monday, Yun said the then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson gave him approval to do so... adding it was his understanding that President Trump had given it the green light.
President Trump recently insisted that "no ransom" was paid for Warmbier.
Yun said he did not know whether the Trump administration planned to pay,... but said he believes the U.S. should keep its promise.
Warmbier was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in North Korea in March 2016 and was returned home in a coma the subsequent year but died days later.
Speaking to CNN on Monday, Yun said the then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson gave him approval to do so... adding it was his understanding that President Trump had given it the green light.
President Trump recently insisted that "no ransom" was paid for Warmbier.
Yun said he did not know whether the Trump administration planned to pay,... but said he believes the U.S. should keep its promise.
Warmbier was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in North Korea in March 2016 and was returned home in a coma the subsequent year but died days later.