Hyung-Jin Kim and Rebecca Butts

Associated Press, rebbutts@enquirer.com

SEOUL, South Korea — A Wyoming High School alumnus who graduated at the top of his class was arrested in North Korea for what it called a “hostile act” orchestrated by the American government to undermine the authoritarian nation.

Otto Warmbier, 21, graduated as salutatorian in 2013 and is described as a “great kid,” a “leader,” and an outstanding student. He is currently enrolled as a junior at the University of Virginia, where he studies economics and global sustainability.

A China-based tour company specializing in travel to North Korea, Young Pioneer Tours, confirmed that Warmbier was detained at an airport in Pyongyang, the nation's capitol on Jan. 2 after a five-day New Years trip.

The tour company said in a release that he was the last person to go through customs and an airport official told a tour guide that Warmbier had been taken to a hospital. The guide tried to go to Warmbier but was ushered through immigration, according to the statement. Gareth Johnson, CEO of Young Pioneer Tours, remained in Pyongang for a few days after Warmbier was detained and learned "there had been an incident."

The company's statement does not explain what that incident was. It previously told the Associated Press that Warmbier was being held over an unspecified incident that occurred at the Pyongyang's Yanggakdo International Hotel, where he stayed during the trip.

In language that mirrors past North Korean claims of outside conspiracies, Pyongyang’s state media said the University of Virginia student entered the country under the guise of a tourist and plotted to destroy North Korean unity with “the tacit connivance of the U.S. government and under its manipulation.”

Warmbier’s soccer coach at Wyoming, Steve Thomas, was surprised to hear the news of his arrest.

“He is a great kid, really smart,” Thomas said. “He was an outstanding player and student, and a good leader on and off the field.”

The coach hasn't seen Warmbier in the last year or two, but after graduation, he returned to his alma mater to play alumni soccer games.

"This is really shocking news," Thomas said. "I have no idea why he would be over there. I certainly hope he is alright."

Warmbier’s Facebook page depicted a typical young man smiling with friends and traveling. His profile photo showed him posing with a cow, the two almost mouth to mouth.

He qualified for the dean’s list at the University of Virginia, where he was also an Echols Scholar, an honor awarded to the top 7 percent of incoming first-year students, according to Warmbier’s LinkedIn page. Warmbier also serves as alumni chair for the Theta Chi fraternity at the university, according to the fraternity's website.

Before his graduation from Wyoming High School, Warmbier was named student of the year and awarded a scholarship from the Parent Student Association.

Wyoming City School officials spoke with Warmbier’s family Friday but did not comment on the graduate’s arrest. Susanna Max, district spokeswoman, said counselors were on hand at the school to support those worried about his safety.

The U.S. State Department said in a statement that it was "aware of media reports that a U.S. citizen was detained in North Korea," but had "no further information to share due to privacy considerations."

Young Pioneer Tours is working with Warmbier's family, the Swedish Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on his release, according to a statement on the company’s website. It is also assisting the U.S. Department of State.

“In the meantime, we would appreciate Otto’s and his family’s privacy being respected and we hope his release can be secured as soon as possible,” the statement read.

In 2014, a Miamisburg man, Jeffery Fowle, who was detained in North Korea was kept captive for nearly six months.

Because the United States and North Korea do not have diplomatic relations, Fowle had no information and no visits. The Swedish embassy does look out for American citizens in North Korea who are in trouble. It was through a visit from a Swedish diplomat that Fowle found out that his wife and kids knew where he was.

An attorney for Fowle advised caution for those involved with the student.

6 months for Bible in N Korea, local man says worth it

"They (North Korea) kind of trickle information out, but what's actually going on can be very different," said Timothy Tepe of Lebanon, adding that he learned North Korean authorities monitor reports and comments about detainees. "You have to be careful what you say."

He said Fowle, is "doing wonderful" and seems to have adjusted well to life at his home near Dayton. The married father of three attends church regularly with his family and returned to a job in the city of Moraine's street department, Tepe said.

Fowle said in 2014 he had left a Bible in a North Korean nightclub in hopes it would reach underground Christians.

The announcement of Warmbier's arrest comes amid a diplomatic push by Washington, Seoul and their allies to slap Pyongyang with tough sanctions for its recent nuclear test. In the past, North Korea has occasionally announced the arrests of foreign detainees in times of tension with the outside world in an apparent attempt to wrest concessions or diplomatic maneuvering room.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich, campaigning in New Hampshire as a Republican presidential candidate, called the arrest "inexcusable." He wrote a letter asking U.S. President Barack Obama to make "every effort to secure Mr. Warmbier's immediate release."

Kasich also said North Korea should be required to provide proof of Warmbier's "alleged anti-state activities" or let him go free. He said the nation has made a regular practice of arresting American citizens to use as leverage in diplomatic negotiations and to "antagonize" the U.S.

"American citizens must be allowed to travel abroad without the risk of being arrested arbitrarily and then held hostage for the purposes of ransom, the forced reopening of diplomatic negotiations or acts designed to antagonize the United States," Kasich wrote.

Cincinnati-area lawmakers said they were closely monitoring the situation.

"We have been in touch with the State Department regarding Mr. Warmbier,” said Christyn Lansing, a spokeswoman for Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio. “We are also reaching out to his family to offer any assistance we may be able to provide."

Greg Brooks, a spokesman for Rep. Brad Wenstrup, R-Columbia-Tusculum, said: “Our office is reaching out to the State Department this morning through multiple channels to assist however possible in helping get Mr. Warmbier home.”

A spokeswoman for Sen. Sherrod Brown said the Ohio Democrat’s office is in contact with the State Department and the family.

“We will do everything we can to help bring him home safely,” said Jennifer Donohue, Brown’s spokeswoman.

North Korea also regularly accuses Washington and Seoul of sending “spies” to overthrow its government to enable the U.S.-backed South Korean government to control the entire Korean Peninsula. Some foreigners previously arrested have read statements of guilt that they later said were coerced.

A few thousand Westerners are thought to visit North Korea each year, and Pyongyang is pushing for more tourists as a way to help its dismal economy. The U.S. State Department has warned against travel to the North, however, and visitors, especially those from America, who break the country’s sometimes murky rules risk detention, arrest and possible jail sentences, although most have eventually been released.

Earlier this month, CNN reported North Korea had detained another U.S. citizen, Kim Dong Chul, on suspicion of spying. North Korea has yet to comment on the report, and the U.S. State Department has said it could not confirm it.

North Korea has previously released or deported U.S. detainees after high-profile Americans visited the country. Critics say such trips have provided diplomatic credibility to the North.

The Korean Peninsula remains in a technical state of war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. About 28,500 American troops are stationed in South Korea.

Enquirer reporter Deirdre Shesgreen, and AP writers Dan Sewell in Cincinnati and Libby Quaid and Matthew Pennington in Washington contributed to this report