It’s North Korea Freedom Week

The list of events this year looks extremely interesting. For most of these, you have to be in Washington D.C. I only wish I had time to attend more of these. More here. One that I’d especially like to attend is a screening of “Kimjongilia,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

Calls for the release of Laura Ling and Euna Lee will also be heard, but so far, Lisa Ling is maintaining her public silence. Sort of.

Their families and acquaintances plan a candlelight vigil on Tuesday in front of the headquarters of Current TV, where the two were working, in San Francisco.

Lisa Ling, Laura Ling’s sister and herself a TV personality, told reporters, “This has been an incredibly difficult time for us. Please understand that due to the extreme sensitivity of the case, it is vital for our families to stay quiet. Please know however, that when you are out there holding those candles, that we are there with you with fires lit in our hearts.” [Chosun Ilbo]

But as we now know, the State Department is telling the families that it’s vital to stay quiet because the State Department is more interested in “bigger issues” — like rolling the stone up the hill again — than in protecting American citizens.

For those of you in the San Francisco Bay area, there will be a candlelight demonstration in Fair Oaks tonight from 7 to 8.

[Update:  There will also be a vigil in Santa Monica tonight at 7, where Ocean Park Boulevard meet the beach.]
At this point, it scarcely matters where Laura Ling and Euna Lee were caught. Wandering across the border would not justify such a lengthy detention, and it’s clear that North Korea continues to detain them in exchange for some sort of political, economic, or diplomatic concession. That makes this terrorism.