What next for Laura Ling and Euna Lee?
A sentence, as expected, has been handed down, but what happens next for Laura Ling and Euna Lee?
According to a report on GMA this morning, it has been speculated that in addition to a visit from a high-ranking U.S. official, North Korea may also want an official U.S. apology to be issued in regard to this case. Apparently, either before I tuned into GMA or after I switched it off, George Stephanopoulos told the program that Hillary Clinton has already sent a letter to the DPRK apologizing for the two reporters’ actions and asking that they be sent home. (Does this apology suggest that the two were indeed in North Korean territory? If not, what on earth is the State Department apologizing for?)
While reports suggest former Vice President Al Gore may travel to the DPRK to make an appeal for the journalists’ release, some North Korea watchers say Gore is not high enough on the U.S. diplomatic ladder to really influence the Kim regime. (As a reminder, Gore has been silent on the case for the most part and as of writing this post, remains silent on the issue.)
Understandably, the families of the two reporters are also choosing to not comment at this time with the latest post on the Facebook page dedicated to the release of the two women requesting that people respect the families’ privacy at this moment, calling the sentence “the worst possible outcome” and a “devastating blow to both families.”
It is hard to predict with certainty what will happen next. It seems there is a consensus out there that the two women will eventually be released, although it could be months before they see freedom. My fear is that if North Korea senses it is being pushed into a corner it cannot get out of, these two women will remain in DPRK custody for a very long time. Having said this, I feel it is too late for the U.S. to effectively separate the Ling-Lee case from North Korea’s nuclear program. Although I believe it was a good effort by the U.S. and a smart approach to take publicly, the two were always intended by the DPRK regime to be pawns in the greater scheme of things.
Terrible either eay you look at it. But Luara Ling, damnit. The last Americans to even ponder EVER getting near that country’s border should be the “Ling” family or anyone associated with them. Nabbing Laura was GOLD for Kim Jong Il. He has been wanting payback against the Ling family since “National Geographic released “Inside North Korea”. I bet that Euna would not have been nabbed if she weren’t with Ms. Ling. I am 100 percent sure thier arrests were done out of emotional payback. Kim Jong Il takes EVERYTHING personally when it comes to any portrayal of himself or his leadership.
CurrentTV was about to launch an IPO on NASDAQ when they sent these two journalists to the border. A good story would have increased the IPO. They’ve since cancelled the IPO after the kidnappings/arrests of the two journalists.
Is CurrentTV a big deal in the US? I’d never heard of them until this came about. Who else is associated with it apart from Al Gore?
And remember, Hillary Clinton welcome the trial. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’d also welcome the sentence. For Hillary the global warming hoax is important in the area, but not human rights.
As for Al Gore: isn’t he busy trying to save the North Pole from his imaginary “global warming”? Cause, remember, in five years there won’t be any ice on the North Pole! Or so Al has said during the past 6 years. As if North Korea would listen to the Goracle.
If America wants those two back, Obama will crawl and pay a very high price for them. He lacks the guts for any other option. The wholre “reaction” after the arrest/before the trial says it all.
Eujin– Nancy Pelosi’s husband helped finance it. It’s not a big deal–it’s user generated content, for the YouTube generation. Current hires kids and pays them nothing. Laura Ling has spend her whole TV career there, not that she hasn’t done good work. Euna Lee was a video editor until this trip. It’s not like they had the support of CBS or the BBC behind them.
North Korea is decades behind foreign policy if they have any at all, with other nations. It is obvious they are protecting their borders like most communist countries do. They have this don’t tread on us attitude. I am really sorry these two ladies got involved with writing a story about China and North Korea, now… look what has happened? ….. The U. S. if in No. Korea’s shoes , would have investigated and finally release them. Ling and Lee are not terrorists or even aliens from another planet!. I think the U.S is getting a hard slap on the face on is one. As far as North Korea is concerned, we screwed up.