Trump condemns North Korea after death of jailed US student

US President Donald Trump has condemned the actions of North Korea after student Otto Warmbier died after returning from the secretive state in a coma following a stint in prison.

Warmbier was released back to his family last week after spending 17 months in detention for an incident during his time visiting the country with a tourism agency.

The 22-year-old returned home with severe brain damage, with Pyongyang authorities being blamed for his death.

"The United States once again condemns the brutality of the North Korean regime as we mourn its latest victim,” Trump said on Tuesday.

Trump added that the US would “handle” the North Korean regime, vowing "to prevent such tragedies from befalling innocent people at the hands of regimes that do not respect the rule of law or basic human decency.”

Warmbier was released back to his family last week after spending 17 months in detention

The North Korean government has claimed that Warmbier fell into a coma after he contracted botulism and took a sleeping pill, but family members and US officials have disputed the regime’s account.

“Unfortunately, the awful torturous mistreatment our son received at the hands of the North Koreans ensured that no other outcome was possible beyond the sad one we experienced today,” the Warmbiers said following Otto’s death.

Prominent Republican senator John McCain was highly critical of North Korea’s actions in imprisoning the Ohio student.

"Let us state the facts plainly: Otto Warmbier, an American citizen, was murdered by the Kim Jong Un regime,” McCain said.

Warmbier’s death is the latest in a series of events in recent months which have led to further tension between Washington and Pyongyang. Trump said in April that the US was preparing for a “major conflict” with the reclusive state.