Laura Ling And Euna Lee Sentenced To 12 Years In North Korea

[Dino Velvet]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,525362,00.html

N. Korea Sentences U.S. Reporters to 12 Years
Monday, June 08, 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.

I feel really bad for these ladies. Did anyone see Laura's sister's, Lisa Ling's, documentary on North Korea that aired on National Geographic? It was very good. I hope they re-air it sometime.

[chefmike]

It's just another indication that the hardliners are calling all of the shots for the time being, and they want the world(as well as their ideological adversaries in North Korea) to know it.

[hippifried]

They won't kick the 12. They won't even be mistreated. They're trade bait. They'll get cut loose as a concession for something else, probably within a year or 2. Of course they'll be persona non-grata in NK for life. Oh well. Just another SNAFU in the insanity of the cold proxy war.

[q1a2z3]

Could it be possible that two moonbat liberal "journalists" will be kept in a cage where they belong? They work for Algore at the current channel. Once it is explained how these two "journalists" are part of the global communist effort to overthrow the United States (yes, the head operative obama will speak for them) north korea will let them out.

[TommyFoxtrot]

What would you guys think if Ling's husband divorced her? I mean if he won't see her for 12 years, that very well means not only no wife, but no children as well. You have the marriage vows--in sickness and health, in good times and bad etc. etc. and most people will stick to it. But at the same time, can we see that he isn't a dirtbag for doing this?


Personally, if it looked like she wasn't coming out of there, I would divorce her.

[TommyFoxtrot]

They won't kick the 12. They won't even be mistreated. They're trade bait. They'll get cut loose as a concession for something else, probably within a year or 2. Of course they'll be persona non-grata in NK for life. Oh well. Just another SNAFU in the insanity of the cold proxy war.

I bet.

[Mr_Choc69]

Feel bad for them? Why? Because they were caught in N Korea filming and then were thrown in prison?

And what a surprise you view Fox News for your updates.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,525362,00.html

N. Korea Sentences U.S. Reporters to 12 Years
Monday, June 08, 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.

I feel really bad for these ladies. Did anyone see Laura's sister's, Lisa Ling's, documentary on North Korea that aired on National Geographic? It was very good. I hope they re-air it sometime.