US Student on 'Budget' Tour Held in N. Korea

US Student on 'Budget' Tour Held in N. Korea

An American student has been arrested in North Korea.

The arrest is the latest in a series of arrests of U.S. citizens.

Analysts¹ say North Korea uses the citizens as bargaining chips. 

The student is Otto Frederick Warmbier, 21, of Cincinnati, Ohio.

He is studying economics at the University of Virginia. 

He "was caught committing a hostile act against the state," the official North Korean news agency, KCNA, reported on Friday.

Warmbier's actions were "tolerated and manipulated by the U.S. government," according to the dispatch. 

Daniel Pinkston is a professor at Troy University in Seoul. He told VOA that:

“We can only speculate why he has been detained. But it is quite risky² to visit (North Korea) as a tourist given the sensitivities regarding anything about the state, the leadership, government, and political system, or geo-politics in general.”

Warmbier was a member of a trip organized by China-based Young Pioneer Tours. He was detained January 2, four days before North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test in defiance³ of United Nation sanctions.

The United States and North Korea have no diplomatic relations. The U.S. State Department has, for years, issued strong recommendations and travel warnings against visiting North Korea because of the risk of arrest and longterm detention⁴. 

Many of the North Americans arrested by North Korea in recent years have had links to Christian⁵ Evangelical groups.

But Warmbier's social media accounts show no religious connections. 

Approximately 200,000 North Koreans are believed to be in prison for their political views or religious beliefs, according to human rights groups.

Words in This Story

bargaining chips -- n. chips or tokens or markets used in games of chance and gambling⁶; chips used in exchange for something else

economics -- n. the study of how a society or government earns and spends its money

hostile -- v. showing anger or aggression⁷

manipulated -- v. controlled or influenced

sensitivities -- n. feelings that might be easily offended or hurt ?

geo-politics -- n. relations between countries or governments

detained -- v. held someone or something back, usually without consent

defiance -- n. push back boldly, open resistance, bold disobedience 

Christian Evangelical -- n. a religious group that spreads the word, or gospel, of Jesus Christ

1 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

2 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

3 defiance   

n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗

参考例句：

• He climbed the ladder in defiance of the warning.他无视警告爬上了那架梯子。
• He slammed the door in a spirit of defiance.他以挑衅性的态度把门砰地一下关上。

4 detention   

n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下

参考例句：

• He was kept in detention by the police.他被警察扣留了。
• He was in detention in connection with the bribery affair.他因与贿赂事件有牵连而被拘留了。

5 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

6 gambling   

n.赌博；投机

参考例句：

• They have won a lot of money through gambling.他们赌博赢了很多钱。
• The men have been gambling away all night.那些人赌了整整一夜。

7 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。