Two Current TV Journalists Sentenced to 12 Years in North Korean Labor Camp
About two months ago, we reported that two Current TV journalists, Laura Link and Euna Lee had been detained in North Korea on March 17. Today, we received the sad news that North Korea's Central Court found both reporters guilty of "a grave crime against the nation" and illegally crossing the border into North Korea. Link and Lee have been sentenced to 12 years in a labor camp. This sentence, of course, comes at a time when US-North Korean relations are already tense. The U.S. government says that it is 'deeply concerned' about this verdict.
The Bad News
According to a New York Times report from March, Link and Lee were arrested by North Korean border guards near the China-North Korean border after interviewing North Korean refugees in Chinese border towns. During the trip, the two journalists must have entered North Korean territory - though it is not clear if they tried to enter North Korea deliberately or if this was an accident. As Slate's, Nina Shen Rastogi, reported last month when the trial of Link and Lee began, we know very little about how the Central Court, which handles all "grievous cases against the state," really works, though we do know that rulings from the Central Court can not be appealed and that legal education is not a required qualification for being elected as a judge.
The (Potentially) Good News
The Washington Post, however, also reports that several North Korea experts predict that the U.S. government (or an intermediary) and North Korea will soon begin talks to negotiate the release. Chances are that North Korea will try to use the two as pawns to negotiate with the U.S.
So far, Current TV has not publicly commented on this situation.
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The correct name is Laura Ling, not Laura Link
This is very sad. I wonder exactly what they did that was such a “grave crime.” Shouldn’t the camera-guy that escaped have the whole thing on camera? The video should show if they were being hostile.
Another case of arrogant Americans
The US has no room to speak about another country's legal system when they (the US) holds people indefinitely, tortures them all without trial. I'm sure people will say you can't compare terrorists to journalists but are they really journalists, are the terrorists really terrorists, I don't know, the US government obviously doesn't know and neither do you.
Somebody explain to me why the US has to comprise any of its positions or expend its time and treasure to rescue two marginally qualified "reporters" who got caught pushing the limits? We are supposed to now negotiate (as in give away something of value to our nation) to save these sorry asses? Had they got away with their transgressions they'd be partying it up on Dateline. Too bad, got busted. Do the crime, do the time.
It's called responsibility.
Here are some more insights....
http://www.koreaexpertwitness.com/blog/?p=92
Message: My friend and I are embarking on a hunger strike in support of Laura Ling and Euna Lee. Read the beginning stages of our blog here: http://dawnesque.blogspot.com/