N.K. claims it offers medical treatment to Warmbier with 'sincerity'

SEOUL, June 23 (Yonhap) -- North Korea claimed Friday that it provided medical treatment and care with "sincerity" to an American college student who was detained for 17 months in the North and died days after being released in a coma last week.

North Korea's foreign ministry issued a statement to defend itself against growing criticism that the North harshly treated Otto Warmbier.

"Although we had no reason at all to show mercy to such a criminal of the enemy state, we provided him with medical treatment and care with all sincerity on a humanitarian basis until his return to the U.S., considering that his health got worse," the Korean Central News Agency said.

sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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