RantCrush Top 5: June 13, 2017

American college student Otto Warmbier, 22, has been released by North Korea. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison and hard labor in early 2016 after being accused of trying to steal a propaganda banner from a hotel. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in a statement this morning that Warmbier is on his way home, and that discussions continue with North Korea regarding the other three U.S. citizens who are currently detained. According to some reports, Warmbier has been in a coma for over a year–he fell into it shortly after his trial during which he tearfully pleaded to be released.

U.Va student Otto Warmbier, detained in North Korea for 17 months, has been medically evacuated in a coma https://t.co/5FfygrDSpV pic.twitter.com/JtieRiqgKL

— Anna Fifield (@annafifield) June 13, 2017

According to North Korean officials, he contracted botulism and was given a sleeping pill, and has not woken up since. Warmbier was flown home the same day former basketball star Dennis Rodman arrived in Pyongyang to hang out with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, prompting speculation of whether Rodman had something to do with the release of the U.S. citizen.

If our military plan to deal with North Korea is to have Dennis Rodman headbutt Kim Jong Un into submission, I’m on board.

— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) June 12, 2017

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.