Thursday, the Washington Post reported North Korea's temerity to bill the United States $2 million for American student Otto Warmbier's "medical care" he supposedly received while in Pyongyang's custody. Only after a U.S. envoy signed the invoice _ apparently at the direction of President Trump _ did Pyongyang actually release the deteriorating Warmbier.
Recall that, for the supposedly "hostile act against the state" of pulling down a propaganda sign in a Pyongyang hotel Jan. 1, 2016, Warmbier was sentenced to 15 years hard labor. Shortly thereafter he fell into a coma, apparently after being tortured. He died a week following his June 2017 release.
Not surprisingly, at the subsequent summit, Trump downplayed the notion that Kim Jong Un had any knowledge of Warmbier's torture.
Also nor surprisingly, the Trump White House went all cagey when asked whether the bill was actually paid. Press Secretary Sarah Sanders declared, "We do not comment on hostage negotiations, which is why they have been so successful during this administration." In normal circumstances, that would be a pretty big "tell" that, yes, of course, a payoff occurred. Public outrage would be understandable.
We caution over such an overreaction.
Remember, this is Donald Trump. When was the last time he was known to fulfill his promises and, well, actually pay a bill?
So maybe having in the Oval Office a notorious cheapskate and chiseler who weasels out of his contracts and obligations will come in handy for once.
