I. Introduction
This is a comprehensive collection of articles The Cavalier Daily published related to Otto Warmbier, a Commerce Student at the University of Virginia, who was arrested and imprisoned by North Korea in 2016 on charges of subversion. Shortly after his sentencing of 15 years of imprisonment and hard labor, he sustained a neurological injury and fell into a coma, unbeknownst by the American public. In July 2017, after 15 months in the country, North Korean authorities disclosed his condition. Warmbier was released to the United States for further treatment, but did not regain consciousness. He died nearly a week after his return on June 19, 2017. Otto Warmbier’s death put an expanded spotlight on diplomatic relations between the United States and North Korea.
This report joins a series of other archivist reports on significant events in the University’s history, developed in an effort to provide helpful resources for those looking to learn more about Warmbier. You may also view this report as a Google Doc here. The archivists will continue to update this report as new coverage is released.
II. Coverage
Detainment and Initial Reactions
- Jan. 22, 2016: Third-year Warmbier arrested for "hostile act" against North Korea, nation reports (article)
- Jan. 25, 2016: Student in North Korea taken to hospital from airport (article)
- Feb. 23, 2016: Liberty in North Korea hosts state defector (article)
- Feb. 28, 2016: Otto Warmbier seen for first time since detainment, confesses to "hostile act" (article)
- Feb. 29, 2016: Warmbier's family responds to son's detainment (article)
- Feb. 29, 2016: Warmbier speaks publicly for first time since detainment (article)
- Mar. 1, 2016: Everything we know about Otto Warmbier's detainment (article)
- Mar. 4, 2016: Warmbier visited by Swedish official (article)
- Mar. 14, 2016: Professor, former detainees discuss North Korea (article)
Sentencing, Detainment Extension and Further Reactions
- Mar. 16, 2016: Otto Warmbier sentenced to 15 years hard labor (article)
- Mar. 17, 2016: What does detainment in North Korea actually mean? (article)
- Mar. 17, 2016: Banner Warmbier allegedly stole glorifies late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il (article)
- Mar. 22, 2016: After Warmbier sentencing, Young Pioneer Tours finds itself in spotlight (article)
- Apr. 13, 2016: How a banner got Warmbier 15 years (article)
- Apr. 23, 2016: North Korean foreign minister defends Warmbier sentencing (article)
- May 2, 2016: Year in review (article)
- May 17, 2016: State Department updates North Korea travel warning in light of recent sentencings (article)
- June 21, 2016: North Korea to continue American detainees' imprisonment due to Kenneth Bae comments (article)
- Oct. 9, 2016: Humanitarian mission advocates for release of Otto Warmbier (article)
- Jan. 2, 2017: Warmbier reaches one year of detainment in North Korea (article)
- Jan. 31, 2017: By the numbers (article)
- Feb. 6, 2017: KATUIN: 'By the numbers' should be more cohesive (article)
- Mar. 16, 2017: State Department calls for North Korea to release Otto Warmbier (article)
- Apr. 10, 2017: Otto Warmbier's parents say they feel blamed for son's detainment (article)
- May 22, 2017: Colombian President speaks at valediction ceremony (article)
- May 22, 2017: Otto Warmbier's absence noticeably felt at Final Exercises (article)
Release, Medical Struggles Disclosed, and Death
- June 13, 2017: North Korea releases Otto Warmbier (article)
- June 15, 2017: Otto Warmbier believed to have suffered ‘severe neurological injury’ (article)
- June 15, 2017: Warmbier unconscious, suffering from 'severe loss of brain tissue' (article)
- June 15, 2017: U.Va. collects donations for Warmbier family (article)
- June 18, 2017: Fred Warmbier speaks about son in interview (article)
- June 19, 2017: Otto Warmbier dies nearly a week after release from North Korea (article)
Legal and Political Actions Amid Reactions to Warmbier’s Death
- June 21, 2017: Student Council hosts vigil in memory of Otto Warmbier (article)
- June 21, 2017: Young Pioneer Tours announces it will no longer take Americans to North Korea (article)
- June 21, 2017: Otto Warmbier’s family refuses autopsy (article)
- June 21, 2017: Rep. Tom Garrett condemns North Korea after Otto Warmbier’s death (article)
- June 21, 2017: WILLIAMS: Celebrate Otto Warmbier’s spirit of adventure (article)
- June 25, 2017: North Korea responds to Warmbier death (article)
- Sept. 4, 2017: Liberty in North Korea chapter addresses fundraising for refugees in first meeting (article)
- Sept. 27, 2017: Otto Warmbier’s parents share new details about son’s condition after imprisonment in North Korea (article)
- Sept. 28, 2017: Otto Warmbier’s post-mortem report provides more details on his condition at time of death (article)
- Dec. 24, 2018: Judge awards $501 million in damages to Warmbier family in lawsuit against North Korea (article)
- Dec. 27, 2017: The Cavalier Daily’s top articles of 2017 (article)
- Jan. 31, 2018: Trump honors memory of Otto Warmbier in State of the Union Address (article
- Feb. 1, 2018: Trump delivers first State of the Union address to Congress (article)
- Mar. 1, 2018: Trump says Kim Jong Un not responsible for death of University student Otto Warmbier (article)
- Apr. 30, 2018: FAHLBERG: Trump must address Warmbier lawsuit during diplomatic summit (article)
- Apr. 23, 2018: EDITORIAL: Reallocate discretionary spending (article)
- Apr. 26, 2018: Otto Warmbier’s family sues North Korea for ‘illegal detention, torture and killing’ of their son (article)
- May 3, 2018: Implications of Warmbier lawsuit against North Korea considered amid peace talks (article)
Editorials, Recollections and Developments
- May 16, 2019: PARTING SHOT: The indispensable nature of student journalism (article)
- May 17, 2018: PARTING SHOT: I was a biased editor (article)
- May 20, 2018: Sullivan headlines commencement as outgoing University president (article)
- Mar. 4, 2019: EDITORIAL: Trump dishonors Otto Warmbier’s memory (article)
- Apr. 26, 2019: North Korea charged U.S. $2 million for medical treatment of University student Otto Warmbier (article)
- Sept. 17, 2019: Otto Warmbier’s parents visit the White House for dinner with President Trump (article)
- Oct. 6, 2021: Theta Chi Fraternity calls for return of artwork honoring deceased brother Otto Warmbier (article)
- Apr. 26, 2022: Family of Otto Warmbier to return to Grounds for the first time since their son Otto’s death (article)
- May 1, 2022: “It’s unimaginable to us:” Dozens gather to honor life and legacy of Otto Warmbier, hear about realities of repressive North Korean regime (article)
- Aug. 11, 2022: Five years later: student journalists recount months leading up to Aug. 11 and 12, 2017 (article)
Justice Menzel is an archivist for The Cavalier Daily. He and the desk can be reached at archivist@cavalierdaily.com.
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