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PrintJune 8, 2009
NoKo's convict two American journalists
They may have strayed into North Korean territory by mistake because they were picked up at the border with China. But Laura Ling and Euna Lee, television reporters for Al Gore's Current TV, were picked up, given a short and sweet 5 day trial, and have just been convicted of "hostile acts" by the government of Kim Jung Il. They were sentenced to 12 years in a North Korean labor camp - a Gulag if you will - and will have no opportunity to appeal their sentences.
The State Department is on the case - sort of. According to this Washington Post story by Blaine Harden, Hillary Clinton is the only one who works there who appears to call what Kim is doing unacceptable:
"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 early Monday.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Sunday the charges against "these young women are absolutely without merit or foundation."
So turn the wheels of diplomacy. Meanwhile, one can imagine what these young ladies have in store for them in a North Korean labor camp.
Kim could just as easily taken out a pistol and yelled "Stick 'em up! This is a robbery!"
Of course, they are hostages. Kim wants international goodies like food to feed his starving masses and fuel to keep the cooking fires going. We are going to negotiate because that is what the US does when even just two of its citizens have been wrongfully detained.
It won't improve our relations but Kim and his son, who he is grooming to replace him, will stave off disaster for a few more months by holding a gun to our heads and demanding we feed his people.
