North Korea To Indict U.S. Journalists

(CBS/AP)  North Korea's state news agency says the country has concluded an investigation of two detained American journalists and formally decided to indict them.

Pyongyang's Korean Central News Agency said in a short dispatch Friday that the North decided to indict the women reporters "based on criminal data confirmed."

Laura Ling and Euna Lee, journalists working for former Vice President Al Gore's San Francisco-based Current TV, were arrested after they allegedly crossed the border from China on March 17 while reporting on North Korean refugees.

The North said last month it would indict them on charges of unspecified "hostile acts."

If convicted of espionage, the women could face at least five years in prison under North Korean law.

Investigators were poring through the journalists' notebooks, videotapes and camera for signs they were spying on the North's military facilities, the JoongAng Ilbo newspaper said last month, citing an unnamed South Korean intelligence official.

The two were being held at private quarters run by North Korean military intelligence agency on the outskirts of the capital, the report said.

South Korea's main spy agency, the National Intelligence Service, said South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities were keeping a close watch on the case but that it could not immediately confirm the report.

The U.S. State Departement has also been in contact with the communist state about the journalists' detention.

An activist who claims he helped the two plan their reporting trip has said they were reporting on North Korean refugees in China. The Rev. Chun Ki-won told The Associated Press that he warned them against getting too close to the border with North Korea.
JoongAng said they crossed into far northeastern North Korea by walking over the Tumen River dividing the country from China early in the morning of March 17. The narrow river, frozen this time of year, is a frequent escape route for refugees fleeing North Korea.

The two journalists were stopped by a North Korean soldier and then taken into custody when their IDs revealed they were American citizens, the report said, citing unnamed sources. The two reportedly were taken to Pyongyang on Wednesday in separate vehicles.

If convicted on espionage charges, the women face at least five years in prison under North Korean law, South Korea's Unification Ministry said.

However, JoongAng Ilbo noted that conviction on charges of illegally crossing the border and spying on the North's military facilities could draw more than 20 years for each.

Past detentions of Americans have required international intervention. In 1996, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, then a congressman, went to North Korea to help secure the release of an American detained for three months on spying charges. In 1994, he helped arrange the freedom of a U.S. soldier whose helicopter had strayed into North Korea.

[souljam76]

North Korea has started its Nuclear facilities. The United States needs to think about going to WAR with North Korea & send our U.S. troops from Iraq & Afghanistan to North Korea for WAR. The United States MUST win. No ifs ands or buts. The United States needs to WAR with North Korea A.S.A.P.

[metsobitso]

Seems to be a recurring method of operation, using seemingly innocent young women to pose as reporters for the press even though they don't have any press credentials. When they get caught, we scream bloody murder that they must be innocent because they are so young and photogenic. Didn't work in Iran and doesn't work in North Korea. The CIA will have to give up on using these kinds of agents.

[labrat9999]

thusspokezara...You really need to take off the funny white cone hat and cape...you look ridiculous in it! And what would your buddy Darth Cheney and Freddy the Freeloader Bush do? Nuc North Korea?? Where have you been the last 8 years...in a closet? Bush and gang didn't do anything to put this nutbags back in their box. All they did was give them money and food and tried to pay them off to keep silent while they went off to war in Iraq looking for MWD that North Korea said they already HAD!!

[CLoverNYC1]

The government is holding those two because they want money plain and simple. The North Korean people are literally starving to death and that last (failed) missile launch cost a bundle.

Kim Jung Il is looking for new ways to fill his coffers and he's not above kidnapping for ransom. The man is a joke. The charges are bogus.

[thusspokezara]

And what is the Golden Calf Obama doing about it ?

[hungry1968-15]

Didn't they just pull this in Iran? Seems it's "open season" on indicting U.S. journalists. Do you think the world respects Obama or, do you think he is considered to be a weak fool? Obama, have Hillary put N. Korea on the "talk" list.
Posted by budmag06 at 1:10 AM : Apr 24, 2009





Maybe you could ask Daniel Pearl?

[southpaw651]

"Humanity always eventually works together, whether we want it to or not. The only difference is whether we work together before, or after, massive death and destruction."
SearingTruth
Anybody that belives this crap isn't living in the real world. It's an unfortunate truth that there will always be evil in the world, and sitting around singing coom-by-ya and trying to please everyone is impossible. The U.S. along with other countries will always have enemies and we must protect our intrests or we will not exist.If a reporter is in another country they must abide by their laws, or don't go there.

[hungry1968-15]

They shouldn't have been there, and if they DID go there, they should have been aware of the dangers.

This isn't America's problem.

[quapawsix]

Chucky's chance to show the world he's just like his good buddies in Iran.

[searingtruth]

"When two lowly journalist break laws to satisfy thier curiousity and the fall out is thier being jailed. Let this serve as a warning for the rest of the nosy people poking where they know is dangerous territory...."
Dgunner


Oh sure.

Let's just hope they are not subject to the same treatment as US prisoners. But given that it's North Korea, they probably will be.

Just like any American soldier or civilian captured in any foreign and unfriendly land, they will be subject to the same conditions that Bush and his henchmen have mandated for prisoners, upheld and defended by Obama in our "courts of law".

The permission of torture and murder is contagious, especially when permitted by the worlds last supposed bastion of freedom and humanity.
ST


"Boomerang"
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave