Trump denies money paid to NKorea for Warmbier release

By Michael Hernandez</p> <p>WASHINGTON (AA) – U.S. President Donald Trump denied Friday reports that Washington paid $2 million to secure the release of an American detained in North Korea.</p> <p>&quot;No money was paid to North Korea for Otto Warmbier, not two Million Dollars, not anything else,&quot; Trump said on Twitter. </p> <p>Warmbier was returned to the U.S. in a near-comatose state after being held in North Korean captivity for roughly a year-and-a-half. He died less than a week after returning home. </p> <p>He went to North Korea on a tour and was convicted of charges related to his pulling down of a propaganda poster. </p> <p>North Korean officials presented the U.S. with a $2 million bill for Warmbier's care, an invoice the envoy sent to retrieve him signed off on, the Washington Post newspaper reported.</p> <p>The Post said the bill was sent to the Treasury Department, but went unpaid, citing two anonymous officials. </p> <p>Trump cited an anonymous negotiator, who he quoted as praising his negotiating skills. </p> <p>&quot;'President Donald J. Trump is the greatest hostage negotiator that I know of in the history of the United States. 20 hostages, many in impossible circumstances, have been released in last two years. No money was paid.' Chief [sic] Hostage Negotiator, USA!'&quot; Trump wrote in a follow-up tweet.</p> <p>It is unclear to whom Trump is referring to in the post. </p> <p>Fred and Cindy Warmbier, Otto's parents, sued North Korea over their son's death and were awarded $500 million by a U.S. judge. That money is unlikely to ever be paid.

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