

Trump says he hosted Otto Warmbier's parents over weekend

FILE- Fred Warmbier, right, listens as Cindy Warmbier speaks of their son Otto Warmbier, during a meeting at the United Nations headquarters on May 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he and first lady Melania Trump hosted family and friends Otto Warmbier at the White House last weekend.



Warmbier's parents, Fred and Cindy Warmbier of suburban Cincinnati, were angered by Trump's comments last spring that he took North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "at his word" that he was unaware of any mistreatment of their son. Trump later tweeted, "Of course I hold North Korea responsible for Otto's mistreatment and death." The tweet made no mention of Kim.

Doctors in Cincinnati said Warmbier had suffered severe brain damage, although they weren't sure what led to it. North Korea denied mistreating him, saying he fell into a coma that resulted from botulism and a sleeping pill.

A federal judge last year held North Korea liable in Warmbier's death and awarded more than $500 million in damages in the wrongful death suit filed by his parents. The judgment may be mostly a symbolic victory since North Korea hadn't responded to any of the allegations in court and there's no practical mechanism to force it do so.