N. Korea sentences 2 U.S. journalists N. Korea sentences 2 U.S. journalists Country's top court convicts Laura Ling and Euna Lee of ‘grave crime’ BREAKING NEWS The Associated Press updated 9:27 p.m. PT, Sun., June 7, 2009 SEOUL, South Korea - North Korea's top court has convicted two U.S. journalists, and sentenced them to 12 years in labor prison, the country's state news agency reported Monday. The Central Court tried American TV reporters Laura Ling and Euna Lee and confirmed their unspecified "grave crime" against the nation, and of illegally crossing into North Korea, the Korean Central News Agency said. It said the court — which tried the women from June 4 to 8 — "sentenced each of them to 12 years of reform through labor." The report gave no other details. The U.S. Embassy in Seoul said it had no immediate comment. The circumstances surrounding the trial of the two journalists and their arrest three months ago on the China-North Korean border have been shrouded in secrecy, as is typical of the reclusive nation. There were fears that the two women would be used by Pyongyang as bargaining chips in its standoff with South Korea and the United States, which are pushing for U.N. sanctions to punish the nation for its latest nuclear blast and barrage of missile tests. The journalists — working for former Vice President Al Gore's California-based Current TV — were arrested March 17 as they were reporting about the trafficking of women. It's unclear if they strayed into the North or were grabbed by aggressive border guards who crossed into China. Gore spokeswoman Kalee Kreider did not have an immediate response to the sentencing. The women cannot appeal as they were tried in North Korea's highest court where decisions are final. The sentences are much harsher than what many observers had hoped for. The trial was not open to the public or to foreign observers. Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31160497/ I wonder how the US is going to respond, pretty obvious that these journalist are going to be used as bargaining chips.
This is good though isn't it? They're not using them as bargaining chips. I hate when countries use humans as bargaining chips. They broke the law (I'm sure they were aware of this) and were tried under the law of that government. Unless they were still in China when captured, I think the outcome is fair. I hope no one expects that these two are tried under US law or courts.
They broke the law? They were accused of "hostile acts and spying." Do you really think that's what they were doing by interviewing North Koreans who were crossing the border into China?
If you're a human being, I think you should hope for due process and some sense of fairness in the way this was handled...I'm doubtful that either was afforded these people in North Korea.
How to handle N. Korea is the question. Clinton nor Bush could get thru and failed...I don't see Obama doing better unfortunately.
man its gonna suck for those two reporters. if any of yall want to read a very interesting book about nk, check out Aquariums of Pyongyang. I forgot the authors name but its an autobiography of how he was put into a nk gulag and eventually escaped out of nk.
Can't recommend the book enough. The author's name is Kang Chol-Hwan and it's a harrowing book. He's now living in South Korea as a human rights activist.
Max, clearly this guy is somewhere south of human, or somewhere north of South Korea... wrapped in love for the Motherland and her "allies." It's been a long time since I've read a more nonsensical post.
I don't think they expect the US to bend over backwards over 2 journalists when it comes to dealing with them on the nuclear front. I think they'll be looking for some kind of humiliation from Al Gore, like a taped apology on behalf of Current TV for crimes against their "glorious" "country."
Mathloom is posting from a country that does not allow the free flow of information on the internet. Everything the big bad USA does is bad, including it's citizens. Two journalists interviewing women coming out of North Korea is spying. Wow....I hope these women get treated with respect and are home soon. And I hope the North Korean dictator dies a quick death, and the people overthrow their government and get a better one in place. Same for Iran. DD
To play Mathloom advocate he is correct, if they were captured in NK and not across the border, they were breaking NK law and have been tried and convicted according to NK law. Now obviously NK law is lacking in what we consider due process and the crime doesn't fit the punishment or is what we would consider a crime. I don't agree with what NK is doing but there was a huge risk for them to take on this type of reporting if they crossed into NK. I hope this case can somehow be resolved like the Roxana Saberi case was with Iran.
It would be very hard to believe if this decision stands. Even the North Koreans must know this is unfair. But yes, when you go into a foreign country, you must be aware of the risks. Assuming they were in NK territory - they made a very foolish mistake. I do not think they will be released anytime soon, not with current tensions. More likely, once things have calmed down and N. Korea is in a mood to make a "good gesture", they will be released. I also do not think they would be put into labor camps. It's a risky move for the N. Koreans...but you never know.
That's exactly what they are going to be used as. North Korea and the US are escalating tensions right now. These two will be used as a chip from the NK side to extract something or other from the US.
