China says death of U.S. student held by North Korea an "unfortunate incident"

Record ID: 896241

  • Title: China says death of U.S. student held by North Korea an "unfortunate incident"
  • Date: 20th June 2017
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (JUNE 20, 2017) (REUTERS) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN GENG SHUANG WALKING IN FOR REGULAR BRIEFING MEDIA SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, GENG SHUANG, SAYING: "We have also noted the relevant report. I think this is an unfortunate incident. We hope that the U.S. and North Korea will be able to handle the matter appropriately." MEDIA SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, GENG SHUANG, SAYING: "Our position is consistent and very clear. We currently are maintaining constant communication with all sides and encouraging them to return to talks as soon as possible and work hard to advance consultations to promptly solve the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS EXTERIOR OF CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY CHINESE NATIONAL FLAG FLYING
  • Embargoed: 4th July 2017 10:53
  • Keywords: Otto Warmbier North Korea U.S. detainee China Geng Shuang foreign ministry
  • Location: BEIJING, CHINA
  • City: BEIJING, CHINA
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016M2ZTXH
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: China's foreign ministry said on Tuesday (June 20) that the death of a U.S. university student released by North Korea last week was an "unfortunate incident", adding that they hope both sides would "handle the matter appropriately".
    Otto Warmbier, 22, was released by North Korea last week on "humanitarian grounds", the isolated state said, 17 months after he was arrested in the country while visiting as a tourist.
    He had been described by doctors caring for him last week as having extensive brain damage that left him in a state of "unresponsive wakefulness". Warmbier's family said in a statement that Otto died at a Cincinnati hospital on Monday (June 19), just days after he was released from captivity in a coma.
    Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang added that he would not comment on whether the incident would affect issues regarding Pyongyang's nuclear program, but instead encouraged "all sides" to return to talks as soon possible.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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