Part 2/7:
At just 22 years old, Otto Warmbier had a bright future ahead of him. A top student, he graduated from Wyoming High School with high honors and accepted a scholarship to the University of Virginia. He was studying commerce and economics, with aspirations of becoming a banker. Otto had a knack for adventure, having traveled to various countries, including Israel and Cuba, and was set to study abroad in Hong Kong when he decided to take a detour to North Korea.
Otto joined a group tour organized by Young Pioneer Tours, marketed as a safe way to explore North Korea despite U.S. travel advisories. The tour included festivities to celebrate New Year’s Eve, where fun and camaraderie filled the air. However, the celebratory atmosphere masked the impending disaster.