N. Korea Keeps Reporters' Families In Dark

There has been "absolutely no contact" between the two American journalists sentenced to hard labor in North Korea and their families, a cousin said Wednesday.

"I know that there's been attempts by the Swedish embassy to see how the girls are doing but we haven't heard a thing," Angie Wang, cousin of Lisa Ling, told CBS' The Early Show.

Ling and Euna Lee were convicted by a North Korean court for allegedly entering the country illegally. They were sentenced to 12 years of hard labor.

North Korean state-run media said Tuesday the women were caught shooting video for a politically motivated "smear campaign" and admitted to the charges against them.

Wang said the families were "so sorry that this has happened" and asked North Korea for leniency.

But she doubts the legitimacy of the charges.

"We know that when they left U.S. soil, they had no intention of crossing the border," she told Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith.

Earlier, the families of Ling and Lee released a statement saying they appreciate the North Korean government's decision to release an account of the events leading to the charges against the women.

"Whatever those charges to which they have confessed, we are sorry and know that they are as well," the statement read.

[kjunrj]

These two women chose to enter North Korea. I sincerely hope that the US does not alter one policy or spend one dime to save them. People who chose to enter harms way should not expect protection from others especially governments. I also don't think their sentences are so terrible. They did enter a country we and South Korea are still at war with. If I was a North Korean I would give them a harsh sentence too!

[bajajohn1]

Truly, North Korea must be among the most repressive regimes in the history of manking. There are others, but this country must be a nation of the most cold-blooded people in the world.

[bajajohn1]

Meant to say 'history of mankind".

[IThoughtItWasFunnyAgin]

Anybody else getting calls from Fort Benning? I hear they're locked down getting ready to ship out to North Korea...

The troops are PIXXED that the Obama idiot didn't shoot Kim Jong's missiles and put him out of operation and sending them in instead.

Obama t'shirts thrown in the floor and being stomped on all over the place!!!

[IThoughtItWasFunnyAgin]

The Rock of the Marne is HOT!!!!

[culturechang]

I wonder what "hard labor" means in NK terms. Is that 12 hours a day of senseless rock breaking?

[erasmus111]

by gravyboat3000 June 17, 2009 9:23 AM PDT
Sorry families, Lil' Kim's a little busy, plotting to attack Seattle, or Russia, or Alaska,(he don't know where the missiles will go).


Nothing scarier than an incompetent person with a gun, missile, nuclear weapon.....

They could even hit British Columbia.

[gravyboat3000]

Sorry families, Lil' Kim's a little busy, plotting to attack Seattle, or Russia, or Alaska,(he don't know where the missiles will go).

[wtcmedic911]

very, very sad for these girls.