The parents of Otto Warmbier, the American student who died after a 15-month imprisonment in North Korea, said Tuesday they are hopeful “something positive” can come from President Trump’s historic summit with dictator Kim Jong Un.

“We appreciate President Trump's recent comments about our family,” Fred and Cindy Warmbier said in a statement. “We are proud of Otto and miss him. Hopefully something positive can come from this.”

Earlier Tuesday, after his historic summit with Kim, Trump said the meeting between the two leaders may not have happened if not for the death of Otto Warmbier.

Warmbier, 22, was a student at the University of Virginia when he was arrested in North Korea in January 2016 for allegedly stealing a propaganda poster. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison and fell into a coma while incarcerated. He was brought back to the U.S. in June 2017 only to die a few days later.

TRUMP-KIM SUMMIT PREDICATED ON DEATH OF AMERICAN OTTO WARMBIER, PRESIDENT SAYS

“Otto did not die in vain,” Trump said as he discussed North Korea’s human rights record.

Trump’s comments on Warmbier came after Vice President Mike Pence reassured the Ohio man’s father when he spoke to him ahead of the Singapore summit.

“Today I assured his dad, as the president said two days ago, their beloved son, Otto Warmbier, will not have died in vain,” Pence said.

The vice president commended Trump on his success thus far with North Korea, speaking of that country’s participation in the Winter Olympics, the suspension of all ballistic missile testing and, recently, the release of three American hostages.

Trump said during the post-summit news conference that the remains of Americans who died during the Korean War will also be brought home. He said it was a last minute deal and expected more than 6,000 Americans’ remains to be brought back to the U.S.

Fox News’ Jenny Buchholz, Ryan Gaydos, Paulina Dedaj and the Associated Press contributed to this report.