Otto Warmbier’s parents on Thursday filed a wrongful death lawsuit against North Korea accusing the country of torturing their son during the 17 months he was held in the DPRK.

Warmbier was arrested and convicted in North Korea for attempting to steal a propaganda poster in January 2016. He was returned in a coma in June the following year but died shortly after his release.

“Kim and his regime have portrayed themselves as innocent, while they intentionally destroyed our son’s life,” Fred Warmbier, Otto’s father, said in a statement.

“This lawsuit is another step in holding North Korea accountable for