Laura Ling and Euna Lee (Current TV reporters) convicted in N. Korea. Sentenced to 12 yrs

[cali]

in a N. Korean labor camp.

And no, I don't think for a fucking second they're U.S. spies.


Laura Ling and Euna Lee are convicted a 'grave crime' against the nation, and of illegally crossing into North Korea, and sentenced to 12 years in labor prison.
By John M. Glionna and Barbara Demick
June 8, 2009
Reporting from Daegu, South Korea and Beijing -- Two American television journalists today were convicted of a "grave crime" against North Korea and sentenced to 12 years of hard labor, a move that increased mounting tensions between the U.S. and the reclusive Asian state.

Laura Ling and Euna Lee, reporters for San Francisco-based Current TV, were sentenced by the top Central Court in Pyongyang in a two-day trial that started Friday as U.S. officials demanded the release of the two women.



Support in SeoulClinton says North Korea reconsidered for terror list
North Korea to try U.S. journalists for unspecified 'hostile acts'
U.S. journalists jailed in North Korea are expected to get prison terms
The state-run Korean Central News Agency reported that the court "sentenced each of them to 12 years of reform through labor" but gave no further details.

Because the pair were tried by the nation's highest court, there can be no appeal.

After the verdict, U.S. officials reissued their call for North Korea to release them.


"We are deeply concerned by the reported sentencing of the two American citizen journalists by North Korean authorities, and we are engaged through all possible channels to secure their release," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said in the statement.

<snip>

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-norkor-journalists8-2009jun08,0,3667915.story

[annabanana]

1. oh dear

This is horrible. I wonder what can be done now.

[cali]

2. It is horrible I just hope there's some intense behind the scenes diplomacy

to get them the fuck out of there.

[MrModerate]

3. To be realistic, walking around North Korea with a television camera . . .

Reporting what you see *is* damaging to the state, because the truth of what goes on is profoundly disturbing to most of the rest of the world. What did these reporters think? That they could do so with impunity? Pretty foolish, if you ask me.

[cali]

4. but that's evidently not what happened

They were snatched from the Chinese/N.Korean border. And I don't know that they were even filming. Foolish or not, they don't deserve this.

[MrModerate]

5. The circumstances of their apprehension are unclear -- Seattle Times

Deserve? Who does? Especially if they've been kidnapped.

But any professional needs to measure risk vs reward. North Korea is notorious for deliberate imprecision -- and outright kidnapping -- in the vicinity of its border. And history shows that North Korea under the Kims behaves, above all else, erratically and in disrespect of international norms. The reporters had to know they were bearding the lion in its den.

China doesn't seem predisposed to complain about an incursion into its territory. And in the current climate, I'm far from sure what bon-bon the US has to hand over to North Korea to get them released.

[Berry Cool]

8. The sad part is, Current TV reporters aren't "professionals" in the true sense.

They're just young kids trying to make a name for themselves in the TV business. They're amateurs TRYING to become professionals. They're the video equivalent of bloggers.

[MrModerate]

9. Ouch. The difference being . . .

Blogging is unlikely to have much in the way of consequences.

[Eric J in MN]

41. Laura Ling is a professional reporter.

Some of Current TV's videos are user-generated content, but her videos are professional.

[noamnety]

6. Unfortunately the US has no standing

to demand their release. Not until we close Guantanamo and release those prisoners.

[ellisonz]

7. Standing? In what court?

The two situations are very different.

[MrModerate]

10. While I don't think the poster meant this . . .

He/she was talking about "moral authority" -- the fact is there's very little in the way of working diplomatic/legal mechanisms between North Korea and the rest of the world.

[noamnety]

13. Mr. Moderate was right

I meant moral standing, not legal. It's hard to make a case that other countries shouldn't kidnap US citizens and hold them in prison for as long as they like under any conditions they like, when we've been doing that to other citizens at will.

[ellisonz]

23. Ahh...the arbitrary court of moral opinion.

[noamnety]

24. Not sure how arbitrary the concept of hypocrisy is.

It's hard to take any US administration seriously when they argue that the US can do X, but any other countries that do X are violating human rights.

[ellisonz]

26. Well the American journalists are well known human rights activists...

...there's a start.

You don't have to sanction one to denounce the other.

[noamnety]

27. I'm not catching your point.

Are you implying that human rights activists are more deserving of human rights than other people?

[ellisonz]

28. I'm arguing that the charges against these two are obviously preposterous.

Not so with those at Gitmo...the problem to date is that there's been no legal process at all to determine who did what.

[noamnety]

29. Seems to be exactly the case for the vast majority at Gitmo. (nt)

[ellisonz]

33. Apples and Oranges.

Not to mention several experts at the Brookings Insitution find that notion incorrect:

http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2007/1207_courts_wittes.aspx

[noamnety]

34. Is it a crime to be associated with the taliban?

Much as I detest fundamentalist extremists, they were the recognized ruling government for a fair amount of time.

How would you feel about them kidnapping American soldiers on US soil and exporting them to a prison in Afghanistan? As a vet, I'm not too keen on the concept that any country can kidnap soldiers, consider them "criminals" because they took part in military training, and detain them indefinitely.

[ellisonz]

36. "they were the recognized ruling government for a fair amount of time."

"Although in control of Afghanistan's capital (Kabul) and much or most of the country for five years, the Taliban regime, which called itself the "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan", gained diplomatic recognition from only three states: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taliban

[noamnety]

37. You avoided answering my question.

Is it an international crime just to be associated with the taliban?

[ellisonz]

39. Depends on the circumstance.

I'm not opposed to shutting down Guantanamo and letting justice have a shot. But I don't think the doors should be thrown open and everyone let free without vetting.

You do realize you're defending the regime of Kim Jong Il...

[noamnety]

40. I haven't said anything at all to DEFEND either countries' actions.

You are resorting to personal attacks (and not even accurate ones) with that statement.

I've said that their actions are comparable to ours, and ours are indefensible.

[cali]

18. baloney. it's not about standing anyway. It's about what the nutso N. Korean's

want and whether the U.S. is willing to give it to them.

[proud2BlibKansan]

31. What the hell does Gittmo have to do with this?

Are we holding North Korean prisoners there?

[noamnety]

35. The similarities seem obvious to me.

I'm surprised you don't see it.

We hold people in prisons for no reason, we get outraged that other people hold our citizens in their prisons for no reason. Do our prisoners need to be North Korean for it to be hypocritical?

[proud2BlibKansan]

38. The circumstances are very different

I'm surprised YOU don't see that.

[myrna minx]

11. K&R. Those poor young ladies.

:-(

[rocktivity]

12. The United States will not be qualified to dump on another country's legal system

until it closes Gitmo.

x(
rocktivity

[cali]

19. this has nothing to do with "dumping" on another nation

but your concern for the two reporters is touching.

[rocktivity]

22. I'm concerned for all who are illegally detained and unjustifiably tried

Especially when another country feels no justification to be concerned when it happens to Americans.

:headbang:
rocktivity

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

25. Fine then, because that's not a legal system.

It's the ravings of a lunatic, written on a paper and called "law."

[kjackson227]

14. I really hate this for the reporters, imo I think our journalists should just stay away from ...

N. Korea. But, don't journalists have to go through some type of clearance before entering a country like N. Korea, or do they just sneak in somehow?

[Codeine]

42. The job of a journalist is to go the very places

she or he is supposed to stay away from, so to ask the questions not supposed to be asked.

[cascadiance]

15. To see how things can turn on visitors, watch "Friends of Kim"...

It was an interesting "documentary", in that it started out with some people that were motivated by trying to do something towards providing a more favorable view of North Korea, and had a lot of people from many countries gathered to do their visit that were motivated to help make this sort of propaganda piece.

But as the "documentary" progresses, it becomes obvious to many that they were being used, and changes of events had them lucky to escape the country to China at the end. Definitely worth watching, to see how one needs to be very careful when going to these countries to avoid being used, but at the same time avoid being arrested too, no matter how well meaning you be in your motivations to do such projects.

Watch part 8 to jump to the point where they were trying to scramble to leave.

Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C76HqPaA6kw
Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G3jONerCeo
Part 3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmRIta75c_o
Part 4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ve_dJtHf8AQ
Part 5 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dVz2pph4gs
Part 6 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyeAVylt5LQ
Part 7 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-43MB5_QKQ
Part 8 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjkwQPptxPI

[arcadian]

16. Big deal, they were spies.

They knew the game. Now the CIA will exploit this story to show how big bad and horrible North Korea is. Ain't buying it.

[K8-EEE]

17. OMG, how ridiculous.

Spies?? 12 years in labor camp, OMG, by all accounts N. Korea IS a fucking horrible place. I sure don't see anybody risking their life to get IN there but plenty will do anything to get out.

[cali]

20. no wonder you're impossible to take seriously

what a fucking ridiculous assertion. there's no evidence and you're in hang 'em high mode. fucking pathetic. And N. Korea is a nightmare- for the vast majority of N. Koreans.

[Posteritatis]

21. And you know that because the KCNA told you so? (nt)

[Rebubula]

30. Meh...

...I give you 4 out of 10 on the Troll scale...

[cali]

32. yeah? and I give you a friendly little piece of advice.

don't call other DUers trolls, honey. Got it?

[cherokeeprogressive]

43. AlGoreSaysWhat? What? AlGoreSaysWhat? What?

AlGoreSaysWhat? WHAT?