Comments on: Current TV Posts Thank You Message from Laura Ling and Euna Lee

By: Spelunker

Spelunker — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 16:54:02 +0000

OK, I volunteer to put myself in their shoes for about 30 seconds. I infiltrated North Korea 3 times and did not get caught. The third time was definitely longer than 30 seconds.
Tom O’Neill is a reporter after all. He did the same story in Yanji (China) for the February 2009 issue of National Geographic magazine without approaching the border.
The risk of crossing the border was not necessary for Current TV’s assignment. Don’t talk to us about risk!
Get a haircut, you little ape.

By: Monkey Afro

Monkey Afro — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 15:41:40 +0000

Really people… all this speculation for what? Reminds me of high school gossiping all over again. In hindsight they may have made the wrong move there on the border, but they are reporters after all. None of us are out there taking risks. Its easy to judge from the comfort of our sofas… I too at first thought them idiots for their timing in going to North Korea. But thank goodness they were safe. Put yourself in their shoes for one second.

By: JihadGene

JihadGene — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 01:54:45 +0000

Dear Euna and Laura,
I have a question about your freedom. What did it cost? Hear me?! AT WHAT COST?!

By: kushibo

kushibo — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 07:24:25 +0000

Glans, I have thought much the same. I think Mitch Koss and/or Laura Ling were the “brains” behind this idea, and Euna pretty much had to go along. Nevertheless, even if she were apprehensive about something she thought was foolhardy, one there she may have gotten a thrill out of the prospect of sneaking into the DPRK, if only a few dozen meters.

By: Glans

Glans — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 07:16:20 +0000

May I speculate a little? Euna’s husband is an actor with uncertain prospects. She saw an opportunity to improve her financial security, not least for Hana’s sake. She also saw a chance to help women with whom she could identify – there but for the grace of God went she. When it was almost time to come home, Mitch or Laura had an idea that Euna, an ROK native, knew was crazy. But she was subordinate to them, so she went along. The North Korean border patrol did its job, Mitch fled, tapes of the hapless North Korean women were seized as evidence, Laura and Euna faced the consequences. And depending on Dear Leader’s judgement, those consequences could have been severe.

By: The_Incredible_HUK

The_Incredible_HUK — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 22:28:02 +0000

So Euna Lee actually speaks decent English.

I’ll admit I am biased towards Euna Lee because I’m Korean too (although I stand by my position that she should’ve known better as a ROK-born person).

I wonder if what Kushibo just said is the truth after all. We’ll see.

By: Bart

Bart — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:29:48 +0000

Euna’s a video editor with no field experience. Of course, she didn’t dream up this escapade.

By: kushibo

kushibo — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:55:00 +0000

Thanks for that. It became the kernel for another post on these two (and Mitch Koss). I'm beginning to feel more, um, ambivalence toward Laura Ling (and her sister Lisa Ling) and less about Euna Lee. It's a gut feeling, but I'm thinking that Laura Ling and Mitch Koss were the primary sources of stupogance, not Euna Lee.

By: Andrew Barbour

Andrew Barbour — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:40:47 +0000

Now that we can put a speaking voice, personality and intellect to the famous names, I feel exactly like I did when I saw Monica Lewinsky’s first televised interview.