Days after USA student Otto Warmbier died, North Korean state media said his death was a "mystery" and dismissed accusations he was tortured during his 17 months in captivity in the country.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly slammed North Korea over its treatment of Warmbier, who died within days of returning to the United States.
In a statement on Friday, the North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman rejected Washington's claims that Warmbier had been provided with proper medical treatment, saying North Korea was also puzzled why the student died right after arriving in the United States.
"Although we had no reason at all to show mercy to such a criminal of the enemy state, we provided him with medical treatments and care with all sincerity on humanitarian basis until his return to the USA, considering that his health got worse", the spokesman said.
His family and others have blamed North Korea for his condition.
There has been wide speculation that Warmbier suffered some form of physical abuse, which caused "severe damage to all regions of his brain" and ultimately led to his death.
KCNA says the North dealt with Warmbier according to domestic law and global standards. He had spent 17 months in captivity after being arrested in early 2016 for allegedly stealing a propaganda poster from his Pyongyang hotel.
Volo said they hope to meet with the family but have been told "it just couldn't happen".
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Trump is "a president who stands without apology for the sanctity of human life", the vice president told the group. Vice President Mike Pence speaks at the Focus on the Family 40 year anniversary event, on Friday, June 23, 2017.
Fred and Cindy Warmbier watch as their son Otto, is placed in a hearse after his funeral, Thursday, June 22, 2017, in Wyoming, Ohio.
Warmbier was traveling in North Korea with a tour group, and was arrested at Pyongyang airport as he was about to leave.
The student was released from North Korea on June 13, a week after the U.S. Department of State learned he had fallen into a coma after contracting botulism.
The spokesman said that Warmbier was released on humanitarian grounds after repeated requests from the current administration but that it had been repaid with criticism that represented a "frontal challenge".
The administration of President Donald Trump has even warned Pyongyang of military action, saying rounds of worldwide sanctions on the country seems not to be enough. In a press conference, Warmbier said "Dennis Rodman had nothing to do with Otto".
"I was just so happy to see the kid released".
The article also criticized South Korea for using Warmbier's case to seek the release of other detainees, including six South Korean nationals. "It's like going to like Istanbul, Turkey, or any place like that", he said.
Dennis Rodman is building his humanitarian credibility, one trip to North Korea at a time.
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