The family of Otto Warmbier, the American student who died in 2017 after being imprisoned in North Korea, spoke out on Friday about President Trump’s refusal to blame Kim Jong-un for the death of their son, saying the North Korean leader was responsible.

The statement was the first reaction from Mr. Warmbier’s parents, Fred and Cindy Warmbier, to the president’s comments during a summit meeting with Mr. Kim in Vietnam this week that he would take him “at his word” that he did not know about Mr. Warmbier’s treatment while in prison.

“We have been respectful during this summit process,” the Warmbiers said. “Now we must speak out.”

“Kim and his evil regime are responsible for the death of our son Otto,” they said. “Kim and his evil regime are responsible for unimaginable cruelty and inhumanity. No excuses or lavish praise can change that.”

Mr. Trump’s remarks had set off anger and sympathy for the young man’s family among political leaders in the United States on Thursday, as he abruptly wrapped up his meeting with Mr. Kim.

