He was stupid for going into North Korea. His parents should have warned him, and if they did, he should have listened.
That being said, he and his parents have paid the ultimate price and really don’t need the piling on.
The United States should prohibit travel by US-Passport-holders to North Korea without specific official orders.
Agreed. College students whose brains are full of mush shouldn't be able to travel over there just to show how much they are down with the "people's struggle".
It was incredibly foolhardy, not much different than the guy who was killed by a tiger after he went into its pen to hug and kiss it. Tigers, even penned ones, aren't for hugging and kissing. And North Korea isn't a place for visiting unless you have official business.
He asked his parents if he could go and they said “sure”.
Somebody should have warned his parents.