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American college student held by North Korea. What next?

North Korea announced that it is holding American student Otto F. Warmbier after an unidentified 'hostile act' in early January. 

North Korea is holding an American student after he committed a 鈥渉ostile act鈥� at New Years.聽

The student, identified as Cincinnatian Otto F. Warmbier, was participating in a five-day tour of North Korea run by a Chinese tour company, Young China Tours. The tour company issued a Friday confirming Mr. Warmbier鈥檚 detention.聽

US State Department spokesman that, 鈥淲e are aware of media reports that a U.S. citizen was detained in North Korea. The welfare of U.S. citizens is one of the Department鈥檚 highest priorities. In cases where U.S. citizens are reported detained in North Korea, we work closely with the Swedish Embassy, which serves as the United States鈥� Protecting Power in North Korea.鈥�

The State Department did not give further details on the matter due to issues of privacy.

Warmbier is a 21-year-old economics major at the University of Virginia. He is also a Theta Chi fraternity member and a member of UVA鈥檚 Echol鈥檚 Scholars Program. Warmbier was detained as he was leaving the country.

The Korean Central News Agency (North Korea鈥檚 official news outlet) wrote that Warmbier was聽 that he had entered the country, 鈥渦nder the guise of tourist for the purpose of bringing down the foundation of its single-minded unity at the tacit connivance of the U.S. government and under its ma颅nipu颅la颅tion.鈥�

Despite a standing against US citizens visiting North Korea, Young China Tours maintains that its tours are safe.

The Washington Post quotes a "knowledgable" unidentified source who says that the number of American students that visits North Korea each year . Western tourism in the country has grown over the past several years, despite the detention of nine Americans in the last decade.

Although the specific reasons for Warmbier鈥檚 detention are unknown, travelers to North Korea are advised to be circumspect and respect the country鈥檚 regulation of . Possession of religious publications or anti-North Korean propaganda is considered grounds for arrest.

Warmbier鈥檚 fellow Ohioan Jeffrey Fowle was after leaving a Bible in a North Korean night club. He was returned to the United States in 2014 after efforts by the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang.聽

Later in 2014, Americans Matthew Todd Miller and Kenneth Bae were . Mr. Miller had been held for several months, after he, like Warmbier, entered the country on a private tour. He was arrested on suspicion that he was conducting an investigation of North Korean prison camps.

As a missionary, Mr. Bae had been held for two years. He was charged with attempting to overthrow the government.

If Warmbier鈥檚 experience is like that of previous detainees, he will likely be held awaiting trial. Often, individuals have been held by North Korea as leverage to force the United States to acknowledge the country by sending prominent officials to secure their release.

Former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter have visited North Korea to retrieve U.S. citizens. to bring home journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee. Carter went to North Korea in 2010 to , who had been sentenced to seven years in prison.

The US government . North Korea desires recognition, so the United States deliberately avoids sending actual diplomats or policymakers.

According to former New Mexico congressman Bill Richardson (D) ,who negotiated the release of a North Korean hostage in 1996, Warmbier鈥檚 release will likely follow the pattern of previous hostage releases.聽

Mr. Richardson says, 鈥淚t鈥檚 , first with a U.N. mission in New York and then when you get there, a lot of meetings, a lot of persuasion. The release happens when the North Koreans believe the hostage is no more use, they鈥檝e milked it.鈥澛�

North Korea is currently holding two other Westerners, .聽who they claim is an American citizen,聽and Canadian Reverend .

Ohio governor and Republican presidential candidate John Kasich has in an effort to secure Warmbier鈥檚 release.