N Korea sentences 2 U.S. journalists to 12 years jail
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32 Comments
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0
timorborder
Boy, won't they have a story to write when they get back. "My Life in the Gulag Archipeligo" or something like that.
These people are little more than puppets in the drama that is unfolding. Once things cool down, they will get released. However, that might be next week or 10 years from now. In the meantime, lets hope that in the US heartland the jailing of these people is used to whip up so good old patriotism. Forget Iraq and OBL! Pyongyang Elvis is now public enemy No 1 (and so he should be). Sooner or later, the US is going to put its foot down on North Korea and it will not be pretty. I hope the US use this and all the other crxp that North Korea has pulled of late to really take the North Koreans to the mat.
0
Weasel
Interesting that one of the journalist is Lisa Ling's sister. Saw her plead for the journalist release on TV constantly. Totally a bargaining tool by the North Koreans for more cognac and money.
0
SuperLib
Barbarians.
0
nandakandamanda
The bigger the initial sentence, the bigger the expected favor/favour will be when the sentence gets reduced in the name of whatever.
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smithinjapan
It's a shame these ladies are being used as puppets in a political game. Even more sadly is that they will probably not get their sentences commuted or be released in the near future, with everyone being so proud (and stupid, in the case of NK) and all.
Hopefully something will get worked out soon. Until then, I hope these women can hang in there.
0
rondh69
The North Koreans are cruel, but Obama should cough up some $'s to secure their release as it seems he has tons of money for just about everything else...
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skipthesong
I think Al Gore should do something. Why the heck were they even venturing into NK. Didn't anyone learn anything from that Charles.... guy?
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Stanley50
Why doesnt Obama just bomb this country back to the stone age? I d definitely sleep easier at night.
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jonnyboy
kim wants nukes so he doesn't get invaded. look at what happened to sadam. the irony is if he'd actually had the wmds he was alleged to have that would have been the reason not to invade him
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gogogo
NK Labor prison = making fake goods, counterfeit money and illegal drugs.
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jonnyboy
those NK fake goods are very popular in this country
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rajakumar
12 year jail,can be reduced to less.
Depends how much USD dollars is paid to ,North koreans ,who have little in US dollars/Foreign currency.
0
SweenyTodd
In case any of you out there missed the memo: STAY AWAY FROM NORTH KOREA. I would guess that these two got the memo, but ignored it, and so, I am not so quick to suggest spending our tax money on them. It all depends on if they actually entered the Hermit Kingdom or not.
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Disillusioned
Seconded!
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TheQuestion
It's one thing to tell people that North Korea is a wretched cesspool but it's quite another to show everybody exactly why it should be condemned. Those reporters went in to reveal the world the NK people are forced to live in and why the government that imprisons them deserves no leniency knowing full well the risks involved.
There should be no negotiations with this travesty nation. It's the executive offices call on this one, pay the tyrant, leave the journalists to their fate, or take the conflict bait.
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Sarge
What's democratic about the Democratic People's Republic of Korea?
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LoveUSA
Sarge, they will release the women, do not worry, they will just negotiate that. No need to hate a whole country because of its leadership. They did not invade any country and did not start any war. And it was USA who divided Korea into two parts.
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LoveUSA
PS. "Evil" countries like Iran treated their foreign political prisoners humanly and released them (the recent case of an American journalist of Japanese origin), so I hope North Korea will do the same and release the journalists. It is a political game.
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smithinjapan
sarge: "What's democratic about the Democratic People's Republic of Korea?"
Did you just clue in for the first time this evening on how people might abuse the word 'democracy' or 'democratic'? Tsk tsk tsk... we've only been telling you for eight years now that any definition on the word has been open to extreme interpretations.
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Sarge
So, smithinjapan, what's democratic about the Deocratic People's Republic of Korea?
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amerijap
Yeah, that's what people in the US and other countries are hoping for. In a possible scenario of political negotiation, the North Korean authorities might ask for humanitarian aids in return, which I wonder whether they will be used properly for humanitarian purposes. Anyway, I bet it's gonna get involved some political plea bargains between the US and N Korea.
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Sarge
Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
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LoveUSA
they do not have queen or king I suppose
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Sarge
Love, no king or queen, but they have a dynasty! In fact, Kimmie has just named his third son as his successor.
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LoveUSA
Sarge, in Japan and elsewhere there are also dynasties of politicians plus a dynasty of emperors/kings
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ca1ic0cat
I still think they need perspective brides for Kim Jong Un. One look at his father is the only explanation you need of "why." Who would marry that train wreck? Plus I bet all the NK girls are half starved anyway. I'm sure the brainwashing has already begun.
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mp516
It's unfortunate, but these reporters made their bed and should now sleep in it. They were STUPID for whatever the reason (Story or not) going so dangerously close to a unstable country known to kidnap foreigners (especially ones they consider their enemies). Why play so dangerously close to fire. You play with fire, you get burned. I'm sick and tired of these reporters and missionaries going into hostile countries and getting killed or kidnapped. Common sense people! Is your stupid story or religion really worth risking your life and putting your family through grief if you get killed or captured?!?!?!
0
TheQuestion
Some people exist under the idea that there are things in this world worth dying for and suffering to attain. The reporters knew what they were doing when they (supposedly) entered North Korea with the intent of further documenting the mounting list of atrocities it commits against its own people. If that is a stupid story than let every jounalist worth his salt go on in their moronic persuits while you sit, with all your nobility and intelligence, at your computer and try to avoid any unecessary risk.
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DickMorris
Nice posts Sarge. These nutjobs need to be bombed until they cannot be a threat to the US any longer. If China don't like it well that's tough!
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bushlover
I don't feel sorry for the journalist. They go to these places and play with their freedom. Especially after Charles Jenkin's stories. Maybe they should have interviewed him instead of finding out the hard way. NK one day should be taken out just for it's international crimes of kidnapping, drug running, and counterfeiting. That'll show them. Deliver them nukes straight up from a US nuke sub. Hot off the platter.
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nandakandamanda
Maybe Kim didn't like 'An Inconvenient Truth'. Perhaps it was mixed in with the action movies in the weekly DVD bag.
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