A 21-year-old University of Virginia student is being held by North Korea for allegedly committing a “hostile act” and wanting to “destroy the country’s unity” while there on an organized tour, according to Pyongyang’s state-run news agency. Otto Frederick Warmbier, a Cincinnati native, was visiting the Hermit Kingdom as part of a five-day New Year’s trip and was arrested at Pyongyang’s airport as he attempted to leave for China on Jan. 2. The Swedish embassy, which represents U.S. interests in North Korea, is working with China-based Young Pioneer Tours and the State Department to secure Warmbier's release.
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