The father of the American student who was jailed in North Korea and died last year after returning to the United States will attend the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in South Korea with Vice President Mike Pence.
Otto Wambier’s father, Fred, will be in Pyeongchang, South Korea, on Friday for the opening ceremony, the Washington Post reported Sunday.
Fred and Cindy Warmbier attended President Trump’s State of the Union on Tuesday as guests of Trump and first lady Melania Trump.
The president honored Otto Warmbier, who was arrested during a trip to North Korea and charged with “hostile acts against the state.” He was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor, and later lost consciousness after what North Korea says was an allergic reaction.
He was medically evacuated from North Korea after being in a coma for more than a year. After he returned to the U.S., doctors said he had severe brain damage. Warmbier died a few days later.
“You are powerful witnesses to a menace that threatens our world, and your strength inspires truly us all,” Trump said of the Warmbiers at the State of the Union. “Tonight, we pledge to honor Otto’s memory with total American resolve.”
Pence plans to counter North Korea’s propaganda efforts while leading the White House delegation to the Olympics.
