U.S. says Rodman did not help in North Korea release

The State Department says former NBA star Dennis Rodman, who is visiting North Korea, had nothing to do with the release of a detained American college student.

Otto Warmbier, who had been serving a 15-year prison term, was freed and evacuated from North Korea on Tuesday, as Rodman arrived in the reclusive country.

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert has declined to provide details on the circumstance of Warmbier’s release or comment on his health condition. His parents say he’s in a coma.

But Nauert is firm in stating “Dennis Rodman had nothing to do with the release of Mr. Warmbier.”

She tells reporters, “we are grateful and thankful” for Warmbier’s release, but says it is “too soon” to talk about dialogue between the U.S. and North Korea.