North Korean court sentences US journalists to 12 years hard labor

By Julie Schwietert On June 8, 2009 · 9 Comments

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After a quick trial, the decision was handed down: 12 years hard labor.

Attendees at a vigil for Laura Ling and Euna Lee, Photo: keithpr

Last week, North Korea made all sorts of world headlines.

But the news that had most journalists and human rights activists on the edge of their seats was the announcement about the pending trial of US journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee, who were detained by North Korean officials in March and charged with entering the country illegally and with hostile intent.

The outcome of the trial was made known today: Ling and Lee were sentenced by the court to a sentence of 12 years of hard labor.

The Obama administration condemned the decision and began to explore options for negotiating with the North Korean government for the release of Ling and Lee.

About The Author

Julie Schwietert

Julie Schwietert Collazo is a writer, editor, researcher, and translator currently in New York, formerly of Mexico City and San Juan. She is Matador's managing editor and is the lead faculty member of MatadorU's travel writing program.

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http://musictravelwrite.wordpress.com Michelle

This is just so scary. South Korea is so similar to the U.S. that sometimes I forget I’m living so close to a country that treats people this way. Julie, do you know of any online petitions or things activists can do to protest this?
http://collazoprojects.com/ Julie Schwietert

Hi, Michelle-

Thanks for your recent comments. It’s great to hear your perspective, especially being so close and yet (thankfully) so far. There’s an online petition, Facebook group, blog, and Twitter feed where you can get more information about actions you can take– all of that can be accessed through this link: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/free-euna-and-laura
justin

I’m torn on this. If we deem someone has illegally entered out country, we supposedly punish them with jail time or deportation. True 12 years of “hard labor” or slave labor as some may call it is insanely inhumane, is punishment not warranted? Plus, I am no conservative, but the fact that Obama is our president isn’t going to help an American in this type of situation overseas. As bad as many people don’t want to hear it, the rest of the world is starting to see us as weak. “Ball-less” according to my cousin who still lives in the middle east. Many didn’t like Reagan back 20 years ago. But it makes you think. Would this be happening now? I’m not here to bash Obama. He ran a great campaign, but everyone (Even you NY times) knew he would be tested immediately. Since then N Korea has detonated a Nuke, and turned Americans into slaves….Pirates held Americans captive for days….is he passing or failing?
http://musictravelwrite.wordpress.com Michelle

Perfect- thanks for the link!
http://exilelifestyle.com Colin Wright

There are also organizations like Reporters Without Borders (http://www.rsf.org/-Anglais-.html) that try to influence situations like this (in favor of the journalists, of course) all the time. They keep track of all of the journalists who are currently locked up around the world for doing their job in an effort to raise awareness and hopefully free these people who have been victimized by regimes like North Korea.

Consider purchasing a t-shirt or making a donation, or even just passing the link around…I think we could definitely use more organizations like this.

http://matadorabroad.com Tim Patterson

Colin’s right – Reporters Without Borders is a terrific organization.

http://www.keepingpaceinjapan.com Turner Wright

Maybe I’m just naïve, but aren’t these kind of false arrests grounds for military action?
George Myers

Laura Ling’s sister, Lisa Ling, a well-known journalist covering controversial and complicated issues interviewed a North Korean family I recall. She was in their apartment and discussed the days of conflict that were before I was been born. I had a cousin, however, and uncle who served there. The cousin, an Army captain went on to direct “Huntley and Brinkley” news and a friend of Edwin Newman who knew him as an award-winning news producer (“Vanishing Americans” natives in the US), who started cutting and splicing film for the Signal Corps in NYC after Korea.

Mr. Newman read a letter at George Murray’s eulogy held in the U.N. Chapel, Mr. Murray had died in Mexico City, his wife an Avon cosmetics exec introducing that product there. He read a letter Mr. Murray had to send to Vietnam canceling the dangerous work of reporters there gathering the “common soldiers” view of the war. Their work was cancelled by “higher-ups” according to the letter. I hope the UN will intervene in this case, perhaps a misunderstanding or a case of “sibling rivalry” which had no criminal intent, i.e,, spying or stealing state secrets.
http://thelonglayover.blogspot.com Carlo

That is just crazy. I can’t even begin to imagine how they and their families back home are feeling. My thoughts are with them.

North Korean court sentences US journalists to 12 years hard labor

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