Two American journalist doing a story in China were arrested for crossing the N. Korea borders and sentenced to 12 years of hard labor. There are rumors that they might not have actually crossed but that they might have been snagged and pulled across the boarders.
The two journalist are Euna Lee and Laura Ling. Laura is the sister of the popular Lisa Ling (seen below)
Since their arrest the family's have gotten little word from them. On Thurs they went to trial and today they were convicted to 12 years of hard labor camp - the strongest conviction they could have given them. It is felt that conviction was given as a retaliation for the UN sanctions for N. Korea's nuclear program. The girls were arrested on March 17th while doing a story on the trafficking of North Korean women. The camera man and the guide were able to escape but the two girls were captured. Euna married and is the mother to a 4 yr old little girl.
My heart breaks for the family's of the two girls. Here is a clip from a LA Candlelight vigil that they held on 6-3-09 for the girls (this was prior to the conviction)
UPDATE: Here is a video clip on the update about the sentencing - by CNN News
Isn't this so sad? Those poor women and their families must be going through such a hard time. I hope that N. K. is just using this sentence to get them some leverage in their dealings with our government. Hopefully things will work out for them in the very near future.
I have a couple random thoughts about this. 1) This was the N. Korea govt's way of telling the US to "piss off", mainly because of the nuclear sanctions. It really doesn't have a much to do with the reporters other than they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. 2) The sentence was really a death sentence. Do we really think these girls are going to survive 12 years in a labor camp? Where some of the worst criminals in one of the most anti-American countries know who they are? They hopefully will find a way through negotiation to get them back home, but it may in fact take months or years. 3) The US govt can't just roll over and give in to whatever crazy Kim Jong Il wants because two reporters went there willingly and got caught. But hopefully it all works out... 4) I don't know for sure if I buy into the idea that they never crossed the border, or did "by accident". Tho admittingly I haven't followed the story too close to know all the details. If it was a kidnapping by the N. Koreans, and that may be very much the case, then this should really be considered a pretty big international incident. And the two reporters have kinda become part of what they originally went there to investigate.
Lets just hope its true and they are allowed to leave with Clinton and come home. I hope and pray for thier familys that it is true.
Single & Not Looking
This is pretty shocking. Hard labor? Are you kidding me? I absolutely think its the North Korean government's attempt to have sanctions lifted or show us they can do what they want. They know the US Government and the people will be outraged by this and will hopefully try to do something about it. I don't think we should be giving in to these kinds of tactics, however, I feel so bad for these 2 girls and I think our goverment should at least try to do something to get them released. Step up the sanctions? Yes. Send in the military? Nah, not at this point, we're trying to finish up a war, the last thing this country needs is another one, and with the North Korean's, that would be vicious beyond ones imagination.
Let's just hope and pray for a miracle