Warmbier traveled to North Korea for a five-day New Year's tour of the country organized by Young Pioneer Tours. Ten other U.S. citizens were in his tour group.[3][17][18][19][20] During his stay at the Yanggakdo International Hotel in Pyongyang, Warmbier allegedly stole a propaganda sign from a staff-only floor of the hotel.[21] The poster said, "Let's arm ourselves strongly with Kim Jong-il's patriotism!". Harming such items with the name or image of a North Korean leader is considered a serious crime by the government.[22]"
WTF was he doing in China? What possessed him to take a side trip to NK? Seems like there was a group a while back that thought they should go hiking in Iran. Weren't they also U. VA. students?
I read elsewhere he was traveling to Hong Kong for an 18 month study abroad program and stopped in NK for a tour with the Young Pioneers group.