A US judge on Monday ordered North Korea to pay $501 million over the death of American Otto Warmbier, concluding that the university student likely suffered torture. “North Korea is liable for the torture, hostage-taking, and extrajudicial killing of Otto Warmbier, and the injuries to his mother and father, Fred and Cindy Warmbier,” she added. As one of the world’s most isolated countries, North Korea is believed to have few assets in the United States that could be seized to meet the judgment. But North Korea is seeking to end economic sanctions imposed over its nuclear program. North Korea has denied ill-treatment of Warmbier, saying he contracted botulism, a nerve disorder caused by toxin poisoning, while in detention.

Source: Egypt Independent December 25, 2018 13:30 UTC