North Korea Sentences U.S. Journalists to 12 Years

This is one of the most effed-up stories in recent memory, and given the subject matter, it's generally appalling how little attention it's been getting from the press:

North Korea has sentenced two American journalists to 12 years in a labor prison as they were found guilty of illegally entering the region, three months after they were arrested, the state-run news agency said on Monday.

The journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling, were tried in the Central Court, North's highest court in Pyongyang, from June 4 to 8. They both were found guilty of "hostile acts" in the communist state.

The two female journalists were taken into custody by the North Korean guards on March 17 while filming near the Tumen River, which separates North Korea and China.

"The trial confirmed the grave crime they committed against the Korean nation and their illegal border crossing," the Korean Central News Agency reported, adding that they were sentenced to 12 years of reform through labor.

More here.

Lee and Ling work for Current, the Al Gore-sponsored TV/web outlet, whose home page as of this writing betrayed no interest in the verdict (an auto newsfeed linked to a wire story on a secondary page).

Gawker takes Al Gore to task for being silent on the matter:

Gore has been silent on the issue, Current.TV told their people to not say a word about it. It's no less disconcerting that Gore was, according to the Page Six item, at a fundraiser for Andrew Cuomo earlier in the day, instead of working - doing something, anything - to free his employees from what's probably the worst work-related trip of all time. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's now threatening to put North Korea back on our country's list of "Terror States" as of this morning, and President Obama just told them that we're not playin' when it comes to nuclear proliferation as of yesterday. Things are absolutely getting worse, and it's pretty clear that if North Korea views Ling and Lee as diplomatic pawns, our government sure as hell doesn't.

Gore's got several points of entry he can make: among the few political issues Pyongyang takes "public" is climate change. The North Korean government loves to have their asses kissed, and the Department of State hasn't ruled out Gore's involvement, so him coming simply as a diplomat couldn't be a bad thing.

So what's Gore waiting for? Our government's approval? A PR angle? Whatever it is, it better come quick. There's virtually no idea out there of what Ling and Lee are going through, or how they're being treated. Ling and Lee could be fine. They could simply get deported, get off scot-free. But Lee's got family in South Korea. Who, you know, North Korea doesn't really like. Which is besides Americans, which Ling and Lee both are.

More here.

As Gawker notes, it's not clear what sort of back channel stuff is going on, but this is a genuinely awful situation and one that seems to be sliding by the folks who could be doing something about it.

Comments

[Jethro]

Isn't there some confusion as to whether they ever actually entered N. Korea to begin with?

[Fluffy]

I think Al Gore is a putz, but it's possible the silence emanating from Current.TV is by design. They may have been warned that kicking up a stink would only result in even harsher treatment of their reporters, and asked to wait for the State Department to work it out.

Of course, that's probably terrible advice, and in their shoes I would kick up a stink no matter what - but I'm just trying to come up with a plausible reason why this story is their #1 lead all day every day, the way it would be if I ran the place.

[domoarrigato]

It's no less disconcerting that Gore was, according to the Page Six item, at a fundraiser for Andrew Cuomo earlier in the day, instead of working - doing something, anything - to free his employees from what's probably the worst work-related trip of all time.

Al Gore is an idiot, but what is he supposed to do here?

[Abdul]

I, for one, understand Al gore's dilemma. On the one hand, two of his employees have been kidnapped. On the other hand, North Korea's lack of productivity makes it an environmentalist's dream come true.

Seriously though, I guessed Gore was working behind the scenes because public statements could mess with whatever Obama's master plan is.

[CaptainSmartass]

Yet again we see the difference between government bureaucrats and entrepreneurs. When Ross Perot's people were kidnapped in Iran, he hired mercenaries to go in and get them, a mission at which they succeeded. But when the employees of a former Senator and Vice President are kidnapped, nothing is done.

Just one more example of why you can't trust anyone who works in the government. They're all talk and no action.

[SugarFree]

Why should Gore even want to get his reporters back? Even in a communist forced labor camp they are more free than if they were still subject to the horrific economic coercion of capitalism.

[robc]

Al Gore is an idiot, but what is he supposed to do here?

Look to Ross Perot as an example?

[robc]

Oops, Capt SmartAss beat me to the Perot comment.

[CoyoteBlue]

...whatever Obama's master plan is.

I didn't know he had a "Master Plan." And I doubt anyones' freedom plays a big part in it.

[Hugh Akston]

domo, Gore is well-acquainted with both the Secretary of State and the President. If he were committed to getting his people out of North Korea, he could make some calls and at least get an official condemnation of the action. If they failed to move, he has pretty much instant access to media outlets, and he could roundly denounce and start whipping up public sentiment against what is a clear violation of human rights.

More likely, the call that took place was closer to Abdul said. If Gore expressed any intentions about publicly demanding the release of his people, Obama probably shut him down pretty fast. My only question is who called whom in that instance.

[domoarrigato]

I'm pretty sure sending in mercenaries to DPRK would be

a) impossible in the DPRK
b) a first rate way to possibly start a war

Iran was a lot different.

[James Ard]

We can only be better off with Al Gore's henchmen locked up somewhere. Seriously, I feel bad for the women, but getting involved with anything Gore is doing is going to eventually cost everybody some of their freedom.

[domoarrigato]

Hugh and all.

I see everyones point generally. I just think that North Korea is unstable right now in a way that Iran wasn't when Perot did what he did. I also think it's harder by an order of magnitude to pull something like that off in NK. That said, I trust the Obama administration even less to actually get these people back. Clintons handling of NK sabre rattling has so far been abysmal - why would that change now. I think these two are probably looking at a several year ordeal.

[matt2]

Those Gawker commenters sure are towing the lion for the Obama administration. After all, the right people are in charge now.

[robc]

I also think it's harder by an order of magnitude to pull something like that off in NK.

This may be, but I think Gore would want to talk to Bo Gritz (or the modern equivalent) before making that decision. Maybe he has, but for some reason I doubt it.

[Rhywun]

towing the lion

Roar!

[Abdul]

I didn't know he had a "Master Plan." And I doubt anyones' freedom plays a big part in it.

Every president has a plan for North Korea. We may get South Korea to do a prisoner exchange with some of the North Korean infiltrators they've collected over the years. Or maybe we'll trade a half-price admission to tokyo disney? As with all diplomacy, it may not work, but there is a plan somewhere.

[Michael Moore]

Bring them back???? Why? They have better health care now.

[John]

I think Al Gore is a buffoon. But I actually sympathize with him on this one. If he comes out and says anything, who knows what the NORKs will do. It is basically a hostage situation. Talking about it could make it worse for his people. I honestly don't know what you do.

[Wicks Cherrycoke]

"Meanwhile, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's now threatening to put North Korea back on our country's list of "Terror States" as of this morning, and President Obama just told them that we're not playin' when it comes to nuclear proliferation as of yesterday."

What a change from the bad, evil days of the Bush Administration, when we put countries on a Terrorist List and warned people that we're not playing around.

[MNG]

"Al Gore is an idiot, but what is he supposed to do here?"

Smuggle them out via the system of tubes he invented called the internet. Duh.

[John Amyers]

Wow, pretty sad aint it? Why do we not send a group of "special forces" over there to bust them out? Enough is enough already!

Riff
http://www.anonymity.2ya.com

[John]

This is horrible. I wonder why Current was irrespnsible enough to send anyone to North Korea. And why they were dumb enough to go. No amount of money would get me in North Korea.

[domoarrigato]

How does the anonymity bot manage topical posts?

[Hugh Akston]

The spambot pretty much said it. I assume that by "special forces" he means the Very Special Forces.

domo, you are no doubt correct. Trying to get them back by force is a fool's errand. But there is a clear avenue here for diplomatic pressure. Unfortunately, NK has everyone walking around on eggshells, so even that much action is too much for the State Dept. to stomach.

Every president has a plan for North Korea.

Grip podium, set jaw, look off into the future, hope they don't nuke Seoul.

[anarch, extolling the low cost]

domo, on what thread here would that comment not be topical?

[TrickyVic]

They are not citizens had do not have rights at least that's the common argurement when it comes to people that cross our border illegally. Even when we remove them from their country and bring them to our turf. I'm sure many on the right would think 12 years is ok if a Mexican crossed illegally in the US.

Funny how all that gets abandoned when it's our citizen being held.

[R C Dean]

I think the Norks are just yanking Obama's chain, getting a feel for just how far they can push him before he does anything real.

The unfortunate thing about a diplomatic solution is that it will inevitably reward the Norks. And, you know the Law, you get more of what you reward.

Query whether its better to just write these two off, to reduce the likelihood of further shenanigans in the future.

I honestly don't see what harm a good loud denunciation by Al Gore, Private Citizen, could do. Still, the Norks are nuts, so maybe laying low is the best thing. Even that doesn't explain the radio silence from his "news" operation, though.

[Rhywun]

I figure the reason nothing's happening is because there's a large-ish country next door which we mustn't offend under any circumstances.

[John]

"They are not citizens had do not have rights at least that's the common argurement when it comes to people that cross our border illegally."

Yeah because we routinely throw illegal aliens into prison for long terms without trial for the crime of reporting. We don't hire them to mow our lawns and work in our meat packing plants and then occasionally deport a few of them back home. Nope, we round them up and send them to labor camps for a decade or more.

Are you retarded vic?

[Hugh Akston]

How does the anonymity bot manage topical posts?

DJ 3000: "Looks like those clown in Congress did it again. What a bunch of clowns."

Bill the DJ: How does it keep up with the news like that?

[robc]

They are not citizens had do not have rights at least that's the common argurement when it comes to people that cross our border illegally.

I think even LoneWacko writes more coherently than that.

[Abdul]

TrickyVic,

You're assuming that the journalists did cross the border. The only evidence we have for that is North Korea's word. The Chinese border is popular with tourists because it's the best opportunity to see into the Hermit Kingdom. For journalists covering the trafficking of woman out of NK, it's a must-see because that's where the women come from. The North Koreans have sent people out to kidnap foreigners a number of times over the years, something Kim Jong Il even admitted to.

[William Walsh]

Can you imagine a job working for AL GORE? I'd almost prefer 12 years hard labor.

[domoarrigato]

Grip podium, set jaw, look off into the future...

This is Obama's answer for a lot of the problems he is quickly realizing that fancy speechs cant fix.

I think the Norks are just yanking Obama's chain

Yup. And Clinton is getting worked over so hard it will take at least the rest of his first term to get back to where we were at the end of the Bush Administration.

[Isaac Bartram]

I wonder why Current was irresponsible enough to send anyone to North Korea.

According to their cameraman, who escaped, they were on the Chinese side of the border, or, at least, though they were. The reporters made the same claim.

The North Koreans are such a lawless bunch that I tend to beieve them. They have kidnapped South Korean and Japanese citizens on numerous occasions.

Frankly, I'm pretty much resigned to the notion that the only way the N Korean regime will ever be ousted is through war whether anyone likes it or not. Even the Chinese seem to be losing patience with their ally.

[John]

"The North Koreans have sent people out to kidnap foreigners a number of times over the years, something Kim Jong Il even admitted to."

They kidnapped Japanese people right off the beach. North Korea is an infected cancaroid on the ass of civilization. It needs to be lanced.

[domoarrigato]

by his, I meant His, of course. Apologies for the confusing use of that personal pronoun.

[John]

"According to their cameraman, who escaped, they were on the Chinese side of the border, or, at least, though they were. The reporters made the same claim."

I didn't know that. I am sure they did that. They have done it before. So basically we are allowing the NORKs to kidnap American citizens. Who cares about Al Gore. Where the hell is the Obama on this?

[P Brooks]

If we only had a Korea Czar.

[Artavazd Papazian Odadjian-Gor]

Even the Chinese seem to be losing patience with their ally.

That would be great.

[John]

"If we only had a Korea Czar."

I think Kim Jong claims that job

[Warty]

We're dicks! We're reckless, arrogant, stupid dicks! And the Film Actors' Guild are pussies. And Kim Jong Il is an asshole. Pussies don't like dicks because pussies get fucked by dicks. But dicks also fuck assholes. Assholes who just want to shit on everything. Pussies may think they can deal with assholes their way, but the only thing that can fuck an asshole is a dick...with some balls. The problem with dicks is that sometimes they fuck too much, or fuck when it isn't appropriate, and it takes a pussy to show 'em that. But sometimes pussies get so full of shit that they become assholes themselves. Because pussies are only an inch and a half away from assholes. I don't know much in this crazy, crazy world, but I do know that if you don't let us fuck this asshole, we are gonna have our dicks and our pussies all covered in shit.

[phalkor]

Funny how all that gets abandoned when it's our citizen being held.

Call me crazy, but isn't it supposed to be that way? While we still have countries on this planet they should look after their citizens. If I were imprisoned in a foreign country I hope the USA would help me out. I thought that was part of the deal. Am I wrong?

I read an excerpt from a "growing up in North Korea" book recently. Either the author was full of shit or Kim Jong has truly suceeded in creating 1984. Big brother exists and he is a shriveled asian despot.

[R C Dean]

Even the Chinese seem to be losing patience with their ally.

The Chinese have been losing patience with Korea for 20 years now. The Chinese also have the ability to shut Korea down whenever they want.

China finds Korea-as-rogue-nation to be a very convenient foil. My working assumption is that the Norks do very little that the Chinese aren't OK with.

[John]

"China finds Korea-as-rogue-nation to be a very convenient foil. My working assumption is that the Norks do very little that the Chinese aren't OK with."

I am not sure that is true. China certainly likes the idea of North Korea driving the world nuts. But at the same time, if they ever destroy South Korea, China is screwed. Also, China really doesn't want Japan to go nuclear (something the NORKS are about to make happen). I think China has lost control of the NORKS. The problem is that if they ever whacked Kim Jong Il, the country might fall apart and stick China with a huge refugee crisis it doesn't want. Kim has the Chinese by the balls even more so than he has South Korea and the US.

[phalkor]

True, North Korea makes China seem like a beacon of freedom. I wonder, if a war/invasion occurred are the Norks sufficently brainwashed to lay down their lives for "dear leader"? Not just the military (which is almost a third of the population, yeah?) but the workers?

I can easily imagine North Korea being hell-on-earth for an invading army. I really want to see what global history is taught in their schools. What does North Korea think its role in the world is?

[John]

"I read an excerpt from a "growing up in North Korea" book recently. Either the author was full of shit or Kim Jong has truly suceeded in creating 1984. Big brother exists and he is a shriveled asian despot."

The author is not full of shit. There is another book called Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader. It is based on the testimony of hundreds of defectors. And it paints the same picture. North Korea may be the worst regime in human history.

[John]

phalkor,

The people of North Korea are so shut off from the world that there is no telling what they will do once they actually see how poor they are and how rich the South is. Imagine living in a world where you eat meat once a year your whole life and then one day walking into a big grocery store.

[Matt]

My gut feeling is Gore isnt ignoring this.

[Isaac Bartram]

Well, one of the obsatacles to military action against NK over the years has been the idea that China, and/or Russia, would come to their aid. Barring a totally unprovoked attack by the US and its allies, that seems less than likely now.

Another thing to be considered in the remilitarization of Japan. They are running out of patience with the NKeans and are increasing the size of their "self-defense forces". There are factions in Japan who would like to move away from the restrictions that have been placed on their military.

[James Ard]

If Gore's outfit was investigating human trafficing then I must give credit where it is due and apologize for my earlier insensitivity. It is strange that NK would yank our tail with Dear Leader possibly incapacitated and third son not needing distractions in his ascendency to power. Who's running the show over there?

[John]

I hope that the two journalists are freed, but their friends stateside shouldn't ask for too much.

Of their own free will, these two women took an enormous risk -- and everything went wrong. They decided to do something incredibly brave/foolhardy in a foreign land far from home. It may be noble for the U.S. government to go to substantial lengths to free them, but it isn't morally obligatory. You pays your money, you takes your chances.

[Abdul]

China will put up with even more craziness from North Korea because a collapse of North Korea means 23 million potential refugees into China. Even the South Koreans support reunification with their hearts, but their heads know that 23 million broke-ass peasants who have never seen a working clock radio is a hell of a problem.

[John]

"China will put up with even more craziness from North Korea because a collapse of North Korea means 23 million potential refugees into China. Even the South Koreans support reunification with their hearts, but their heads know that 23 million broke-ass peasants who have never seen a working clock radio is a hell of a problem."

Some day the North will fall and the guilt in the South over letting their countryman go through that is going to be enormous.

[sir benjamin]

While 12 years seems excessive in labor camps, it is important to remember that these journalists either:

A) knowingly illegally crossed into North Korea;
B) accidentally illegally crossed the border, or
C) were dicking around way too effin' close to the North Korean border.... Read More

In any of these scenarios, the detained journalists are idiots at best, criminals at worst. That said, The Obama Administration should use every diplomatic option to get our citizens back.

These women ventured into dangerous waters (pun intended) looking for an inside scoop on North Korea. They may have gotten more than they bargained for but odds that they will survive and go on to write one bitchin story!

[Geotpf]

"John | June 8, 2009, 9:53am | #

"According to their cameraman, who escaped, they were on the Chinese side of the border, or, at least, though they were. The reporters made the same claim."

I didn't know that. I am sure they did that. They have done it before. So basically we are allowing the NORKs to kidnap American citizens. Who cares about Al Gore. Where the hell is the Obama on this?"

So you think that Obama should start a full-fledged war with North Korea to rescue these two? That is basically his only option at this point (other than doing basically nothing).

[Milluh]

It would be interesting to know if these two were actually employees of Current, or "working" for them the way so many other Current reports do - for free - on their own.

[Mary Anne Nett]

You had me at dicks also fuck assholes.

[John]

"So you think that Obama should start a full-fledged war with North Korea to rescue these two?"

No but he could say something about it.

[Isaac Bartram]

It is strange that NK would yank our tail with Dear Leader possibly incapacitated and third son not needing distractions in his ascendency to power. Who's running the show over there?

There have been some news reports that with Dear Leader's stroke (something that noone's actually too sure about) there is something of a power struggle going on in the senior military ranks.

Whether there is a faction actually in favor of a complete coup or not I haven't seen. Or are the generals just competing for favor with the successor (recently named as No 3 son, I believe). Of course, anyone who backed any other contender is, I expect, shit out of luck.

Naturally all news out of NK is either all lies (if it comes from official channels) or pure guesswork.

The country is the most secretive in the world. And bizarre and absurd in a very unfunny way.

[J sub D]

While 12 years seems excessive in labor camps, it is important to remember that these journalists either:

A) knowingly illegally crossed into North Korea;
B) accidentally illegally crossed the border, or
C) were dicking around way too effin' close to the North Korean border.... Read More

In any of these scenarios, the detained journalists are idiots at best, criminals at worst. That said, The Obama Administration should use every diplomatic option to get our citizens back.

These women ventured into dangerous waters (pun intended) looking for an inside scoop on North Korea. They may have gotten more than they bargained for but odds that they will survive and go on to write one bitchin story!

What woulld you say about this scenario?

It's the latter half of the 1970s. Two sailors on liberty in Hong Kong pass on visiting the Wanchai or Botton's Up and decide to take the train to get as close to the Red Chinese border as possible. The train line ends in Lo Wu, so these "idiots at best, criminals at worst" commence walking north till they reach a checkpont and take pictures.

Sounds pretty similar to what these their photograper claims these journalists did, doesn't it?

Maybe those journalists thought that an internationally recognized borders actually means something. Like Jerry and I did in Lo Wu.

[R C Dean]

I would think that if the Norks actually crossed the border to seize these two, the Chinese would be very upset.

Unless, of course, they are preserving their deniability while letting their crazy cousins test the Obama's resolve and diplomatic skillz.

Naah, that couldn't be it.

The Chinese have orders of magnitude more tools in dealing with the Norks than anyone else, yet as far as I know they rarely put any meaningful pressure on the regime. Curious, that.

[John]

"I would think that if the Norks actually crossed the border to seize these two, the Chinese would be very upset>"

They go accross the border and grab North Koreans all the time. The Chinese actually moved troops to the border because starving North Korean Army units were coming over the border and stealing food. It is crazy up there.

[Fluffy]

Yeah because we routinely throw illegal aliens into prison for long terms without trial for the crime of reporting.

Earlier this year the US had over 400 people held in detention for more than a year for illegally crossing the border:

http://www.svherald.com/articles/2009/03/16/news/doc49bdfaae8bc61307820812.txt

That's not really the point of the post you're replying to, though. The argument that non-citizens possess no civil rights is routinely offered over at Free Republic in defense of various War on Terror policies. That would seem to imply that North Korea can also act as if non-citizens it detains have no rights. I of course would view such a claim as absurd regardless of what government makes it.

[BakedPenguin]

The part of the border where refugees cross over isn't so heavily guarded - which is why refugees cross there. It's probable the journos were in an area where there were no Chinese border guards to witness whatever went on.

Given their long history of kidnapping, and the fact that the US women were well aware of what kind of place NK is, I'd be surprised if this were anything other than a hostage taking to get human shields / diplomacy bait. The NK's probably lured them to a remote section of the Chinese border area by having "defectors" talk about a certain place where a lot of border crossing were made.

[Artavazd Papazian Odadjian-Gor]

What's interesting to me is that N. Korea either doesn't have the resources or the will to pretend to be anything more than a bizarre police state.

[TrickyVic]

"""Yeah because we routinely throw illegal aliens into prison for long terms without trial for the crime of reporting."""

You assume they were reporting, so the story says. That may or may not be true. Spys are disguised as journalist. If anyone in the gimo prison said they were journalist would you give them a pass?

Retarded. No, I'm playing devils advocate here. Many people, some on this board, have advocated treating foriegners without due process, and without honesty of the circumstances surrounding their capture/imprisonment. Every government claims to have a legit reason and hold those reasons close to heart. We have done the same with the prison at Gitmo.

It's simple John, you either believe foriengers have rights within the country they are charged or not. And if you believe in the unitary of the excutive has the ability to decide, then you can't really complain about another country following your lead.

"""You're assuming that the journalists did cross the border. """"

Does that really matter? Our country has taken the stance that we can capture anyone we decide worthy anywhere on the planet.

"""If I were imprisoned in a foreign country I hope the USA would help me out. I thought that was part of the deal. Am I wrong?"""

True, and International convention would require they counsult the US Embassy on such matters. However we have ignored that with a Mexican national a year or two ago. One might argure we once kidnapped the leader of Panama.

I'm not aruging for their detention. I disagree with it, but it's hard to make that objection on an international level, or a moral level, when your country does similar actions.

We can take people from a foreign country and shove them into a dark whole, and make a claim that they are dangerous to us without real evidence. If one really believes that's ok, then it's ok for others to do it too.

[Abdul]

Earlier this year the US had over 400 people held in detention for more than a year for illegally crossing the border

Any of those people can be repatriated to their country of origin if they drop their immigration appeals. They stay in detention because they don't want to go home. The reporters in this situation can't say "our bad, how about you send me back to the US."

[Tulpa]

The problem with North Korea is that there are no effective non-military options to bring them into line. They're totally isolated from the rest of the world already, so an embargo is meaningless. THey have no assets in other countries to freeze. And the military options are precluded by being allied with China and now having nukes.

That said, it's difficult to believe these two journalists made it out of the crib if they're as stupid/reckless as it seems.

[TrickyVic]

"""I of course would view such a claim as absurd regardless of what government makes it."""

I agree 100% and I get ridiculed by people wearing flag pins when I say WE are wrong for doing it.

Kangaroo courts, indefinite detentions, detention without due process, should be bullshit everywhere in the world. But if you accept it, you should realize that every executive of a nation can claim they have a legit reason to do so too.

[TrickyVic]

And John thinks that belief is retarded.

[R C Dean]

They're totally isolated from the rest of the world already, so an embargo is meaningless.

I was under the impression that they were dependent on China for things like food and fuel.

[TrickyVic]

"""No but he could say something about it."""

He should, but it's hard to be taken seriously against this type of behavior when your country is one of the biggest offenders of removing people from their homeland and detaining them with so-called proof that probably can't withstand a trial. Be he should say something anyway, even if it risks sounding like a hypocrite.

[IceTrey]

From what I understand the border is actually a river. How could you "think" you were on the Chinese side of the river. It's a freakin river! You're on one side or the other. If they were snatched from the Chinese side that's on thing, if they were in NK then, good luck.

[Zeb]

Part of the border is rivers, but presumably that is not the part people cross on foot.

[Geotpf]

"John | June 8, 2009, 11:04am | #

"So you think that Obama should start a full-fledged war with North Korea to rescue these two?"

No but he could say something about it."

Hillary and White House spokesman what's-his-name have issued statements. Obama hasn't directly said anything, but Hillary is as high up as you can get (except for Obama himself).

[JW]

Gore's plan is pretty clear: Now that they are actually prisoners and not just on trial where they could be found innocent, his plan to be the fearless hero and swoop in a save them from the jaws of godless communism, is being hatched as we speak.

To be fair though on the silence from Current, that's SOP in controversial situations: let the brass and/or lawyers dot he talking for the company.

[Paul]

Lee and Ling work for Current, the Al Gore-sponsored TV/web outlet, whose home page as of this writing betrayed no interest in the verdict (an auto newsfeed linked to a wire story on a secondary page).

Gawker takes Al Gore to task for being silent on the matter:

Is it possible that lefty Current and Al Gore remain silent on this because any verbose condemnation of North Korea fucks up the Narrative(tm)?

[Paul]

They're totally isolated from the rest of the world already, so an embargo is meaningless.

I was under the impression that they were dependent on China for things like food and fuel.

Specifically, yes. In general, however, they're dependent on Capitalism for food and fuel.

[Paul]

Many people, some on this board, have advocated treating foriegners without due process, and without honesty of the circumstances surrounding their capture/imprisonment.

Lonewhacko does not 'many people' make.

[Paul]

The Chinese actually moved troops to the border because starving North Korean Army units were coming over the border and stealing food. It is crazy up there.

Nope, just the workers paradise.

[Short]

An expert on ABC news claims the US needs to be careful about what assumptions they are making towards North Korea and the country's "plan" for the girls. It could only aggravate North Korea and cause worse actions than originally intended. http://www.newsy.com/videos/12_years_hard_labor_for_u_s_journalists

[BakedPenguin]

From what I understand the border is actually a river. How could you "think" you were on the Chinese side of the river. It's a freakin river! You're on one side or the other.

If that's referencing my comment, North Korea has previously kidnapped Japanese people from Japanese soil. They can manage to cross a river.

[Pro Libertate]

I think it's time to mess with their heads.

[B]

"He should, but it's hard to be taken seriously against this type of behavior when your country is one of the biggest offenders of removing people from their homeland and detaining them with so-called proof that probably can't withstand a trial. Be he should say something anyway, even if it risks sounding like a hypocrite."

Hahahahaha, you are so fucking right, because detaining men who were captured fighting Americans is exactly the fucking same as what is going on here. And Guantanomo? The exact fucking same as the huge gulag in North Korea.

[Michael Ejercito]

Frankly, I'm pretty much resigned to the notion that the only way the N Korean regime will ever be ousted is through war whether anyone likes it or not. Even the Chinese seem to be losing patience with their ally.

The reason that they do not is because to them, North Korea serves as a buffer to South Korea.

[Michael Ejercito]

The argument that non-citizens possess no civil rights is routinely offered over at Free Republic in defense of various War on Terror policies.

They do not.

What civil rights did Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi have?

[LSL]

No one seems to be really arguing over whether the girls were on the wrong side. I think it's been established that they were in the wrong place. IF so, they as ethnic koreans know better than anyone else what the consequences were, they were in the wrong; Let them rot.

As for NKorea, should just ignore them and let
them rot as well (starvation). Maybe once the people break down, ppl might actually rebel. NO AID, no appeasement,
only way to stop nuclear armament is invasion/war. Just not worth it, so just let
them rot. There's no way they can win a war and they know it. It'd be them against the world.