Clinton “Deeply Concerned” by Length of Journalists’ Sentence in NK
ABC News' Kirit Radia reports: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said today she was "deeply concerned" by the lengthy prison sentence handed down by a North Korean court today to two American journalists detained in the Stalinist country for nearly three months.
"Our thoughts are with these two young women and their families. I have spoken with family members and expressed our concern, as well as our commitment to securing the release of our citizens. Obviously, we are deeply concerned about the length of the sentences and the fact that this trial was conducted totally in secret, with no observers, and we're engaged in all possible ways through every possible channel to secure their release. And we once again urge North Korea to grant their immediate release on humanitarian grounds," Clinton said.
American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee were detained by North Korean guards as they reported a story along the border with China in March.
The challenge for the United States now will be to balance punishing Pyongyang for its recent nuclear test without antagonizing the North as it seeks to win the release of the two Americans. It's terrible timing for the US which wants to tighten the screws on North Korea, but perhaps worse timing for the two Americans.
The US has sought to de-couple the two issues, though it will be difficult for Lee and Ling not to become a pawn in the delicate diplomatic dance.
Clinton today did her best to separate the sanctions from their detention.
"We view these as entirely separate matters. We think the imprisonment, trial and sentencing of Laura and Euna should be viewed as a humanitarian matter. We hope that the North Koreans will grant clemency and deport them," she said.
"There are other concerns that we and the international community have with North Korea, but those are separate and apart from what's happening to the two journalists," Clinton added.
"We think this should be examined on a humanitarian background," Clinton's spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters earlier in the day. "That's totally separate from what we're trying to do up in New York," where the US is pushing for sanctions on North Korea at the United Nations.
Of course the US is hard pressed to defend why a release on "humanitarian" grounds is justified, other than to say the crimes don't justify the harsh punishment and citing the opaque judicial process.
Neither Clinton nor Kelly would confirm ABC's reporting that the US had sent a letter to the North Koreans asking for their release.
"I think for understandable reasons I'm not going to go into our private diplomatic efforts," Clinton said when asked about the letter and whether the US would consider sending an envoy like Al Gore, whose Current TV employed the two journalists, to Pyongyang to negotiate for their release.
"We are pursuing every possible approach that we can consider in order to persuade the North Koreans to release them and send these young women home," she added.
"I don't want to go too much into detail on what exactly we're pursuing. I think, for reasons that you can understand, this is a — obviously a sensitive subject," Kelly said.
"I have seen no indications that they're — no overt indications that they're using these two young ladies as pawns," Kelly added.
When asked if the US would hold off on the push for sanctions until this issue is resolved, he replied: "No, no. As I said before, they're completely separate."
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I think that this a tragic error for these girls to be detained so long in Korea. They are not propared to work as they indicated that they were to work. I think the reporters were struggeling to be understood and to understand matters in that country. Someting very positive could happen here. Some real learning could surface which would not only serve S. Korea, N. Korea or the world. I think that it is important for the leaders and all people of involvement reconsider the changers. I think the issues are understanding each other and to make of the world a better place where all coule experience a better life and work toward Utopia. There is so much to be done in that area right in that
particular neighborhood. The world can be prevented from premature old age if we can start work on it right away. The world should bond together to assis further generations in experienceing life to the highest and fullest possible.
G. Raye Gnade
Posted by: G. Raye Gnade | June 8, 2009, 9:17 pm 9:17 pm
These women are Americans first and foremost. No American would want to be treated like this. It makes no difference if the are of Korean decent or were born in Korea. They are Americans. They are American news reporters not Korean news reporters and thus they should get the full backing of the American government. They should get the full backing of the American press. Can you imagine a government offical being treated like this? Can you imagine Ted Turner being treated like this? Can you imagine any major tv achore being treated like this? There is a smell of racecism here that stinks like a World War II Japanese American concentration camp. It smells familar. I kinda smells like a USN gunboat named San Pablo or Pueblo or something like that. I just know for sure it stinks. I am an American and I don’t want any American treated this way. If we can go to war for another countries, or nationals rights then we should do the same for our citizens as well. If we can liberate Iraq then we should be willing to free our own citizens as well. I’d go to war if some country took Obamaor any of his family. And I pray to God that he’d be there for me with the full faith and credit of the U.S.A. ,and the might of the our forces that I served in. What’s the use of buying all the arms if you can’t use them or threaten to use the stuff. Maybe it’s just to keep the country from going bankrupt. The North Koreans don’t seem shy about showing off thier arms. No kiddin, really. They are Americans, they pay taxes, they vote, let’s get these ladies home please. I know they will promise not to go back. Hell I’ll stay away from North Korea too. In fact we’ll promise not to send them anything or anyone if that makes them happy. They’re not hostages right?
I mean- we are not talking pirates are we! Screw it, they want some nuclear waste. Then waste them. Don’t we still have a red phone somewhere, or is it an “I” phone now?
Posted by: Joe Tesoro | June 8, 2009, 10:16 pm 10:16 pm
There needs to be a military strike. Loss of lives on the SK side would be severe but a military action is necessary before NK has full nuclear capabilities. Sanctions are just going to anger them more. Even if an agreement on a diplomatic level happens, NK will just leave it to gain additional aid.
Posted by: John | June 9, 2009, 7:00 am 7:00 am
A military strike to free two spies. These ladies knew what trouble they were getting into.
The only ones to have the OBAMA LOVE is the stupid Media
Posted by: John GIRLLY | June 9, 2009, 8:12 am 8:12 am
Joe,
Where have you been for say the past 25+ years or so.
do you recall the name Terry Anderson? He was perhaps the highest profile hostage taken in Lebanon in the 1980′s.
“Can you imagine any major tv achore being treated like this?”
Anderson was the chief Middle East correspondent for the Associated Press!
This kind of behavior has been going on for a very long time & will not stop now. The girls are bargaining chips as far as the NK gov’t is concerned. This lesson should have been learned by jouralists and the American people in general a long time ago. What you are doing and who you may be trying to help is completely irrelevant to these kinds of people. You are an American, that is all that matters and you can be taken and used as a chip at the table.
It doesn’t matter if Obama is running around the planet trying to make us “look better” or not. This has been going on under Presidents of both parties. It is the risk you take if you enter any of the hot spots in the world today.
Posted by: Mike_C | June 9, 2009, 12:37 pm 12:37 pm
I am so very sorry about ms.ling and ms. lee and I will hope we will all pray for them, but GOD KNOWS I AM SICK OF WARS, RUMORS OF WARS AND THE CALL FOR WARS. The only thing war can get us is more wars. Haven’t we learned anything about the wars we are already in?
N.KOREA IS NOT PLAYING AND THEY ARE NOT LISTENING AND EVIDENTLY THEY ARE NOT AFRAID OF US OR ALL THE OTHER COUNTRIES WHO HAVE SANCTIONED THEM. ALL THEY NEED IS FOR US TO ANTAGONIZE THEM. They already feel everyone hates them. THEY ALREADY ARE ONE OF THE POOREST NATION ON EARTH BECAUSE OF THE SANCTIONS, so they feel they have nothing to lose to start a nuclear war. A NUCLEAR WAR COULD MEAN DOOMSDAY FOR THE WORLD. NO ONE OR TWO or a thousand two, PEOPLE ARE WORTH THE LIVES OF THE WORLD.
AS Billy GRAHAM,Jr said on Larry King, those girls had no business there;
it is the mostly highly guarded border in the world. There are consequences for breaking laws, whether it is our laws or laws of other countries. I AGREE WITH HIM!!! And I say “NO WAR…NOT ABOUT THIS!” Even If it was for me, or for a member of my family, I WOULD STILL SAY don’t sacrifice the world or plunge us into a nuclear war… because WHAT GOOD WILL IT DO, If we all, including me and my family, or you and your family die anyway!?
AMERICA need to get back to being AMERICA THE POWERFUL BUT NEVER THE AGGRESSORS as we were this time. America NEVER started a fight before Iraq, but we never lost EITHER. We will always protect our people and our soil on our borders, but how can we start a fight with another country because our citizen went to their country disobeying their laws. Should they come here and start a war because we want to punish their citizen for disobeying our laws? Nope! ALL WE NEED TO DO IS RESPECT EACH OTHER’S RIGHTS. WE HAVE RIGHTS AND T-H-E-Y… meaning every other country have rights. THE WORLD HAVE GROWN TOO SMALL NOT TO REALIZE THAT!
BILLY GRAHAM, JR went on to say that we need to focus on what N.KOREA IS DOING WITH these NUCLEAR WEAPONS;he repeated it several times and needless to say, I AGREE AGAIN! He said he wouldn’t be surprise if they were home by CHRISTMAS by then…… negotiations should be over and it wouldn’t serve N.KOREA any purpose to keep them. I HOPE HE IS RIGHT.
People advocating war out of emotion rather than using their head, should read up on what happen when we dropped the Atomic BOMB; now COUNTRIES have the HYDROGEN BOMB AND THE NUCLEAR BOMB, which could wipe out humanity.
Let’s take a deep breath and see what our leaders can come up with; hopefully something everyone can “LIVE” with.
Bill Richardson, who negotiated with N.KOREA before and manage to get some guys released, just said, on ANDERSON COOPER, that he believe a diplomatic resolution will be made.
SO PLEASE,Joe Tesoro, when you said, “Screw it, they want some nuclear waste. Then waste them. Don’t we still have a red phone?” that kind of talk is dangerous,thoughtless, unintelligent and tantamount to saying, “bring it on!” Haven’t you notice, they are still bringing it on! I don’t think we want to esculate hatred for us; we want to de-esculate hatred around the world. So we can finally live in peace. MOST PEOPLE WHO HATE OTHER PEOPLE DON’T EVEN KNOW REALLY WHY THEY HATE PEOPLE, especially people they have never laid eyes on.
ALL we need is more COWBOYS COMING OUT THE WOODWORK SCREAMING AGAIN, “BRING IT ON” to harden their hearts more than it is.
DIPLOMACY, IS WHAT WE NEED TO LEARN TO USE. TACTFULNESS IS WHAT WE NEED TO USE. RESPECT FOR OTHER COUNTRIES IS WHAT WE NEED TO HAVE. We can all get along in this world together if certain groups don’t think they are better than other groups, if certain countries don’t think they are better than other countries. THIS IS WHAT OBAMA’s trip to CAIRO was all about; it was to ask…not demand….. that we should have MUTUAL RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER. AMERICANS SHOULD HAVE RESPECT FOR ARABS AND ARABS SHOULD HAVE RESPECT FOR AMERICANS. THIS WORLD IS DOOMED IF ANY COUNTRY trys to boss the world. It ain’t gonna work.
Other people are just as determined to have their rights as we are. ALL countries have to find a way to not allow our rights to infringe on others rights. Instead of screaming for war, scream for answers.
WE SHOULD HAVE LEARN OUR LESSON WHEN BUSH LIED US INTO a WAR we are still in. We were suppose to go in, kick butts and be home for dinner…that was OVER SIX (6) YEARS AGO. I admit the last administration didn’t tell us what year we would be back for dinner , but gosh, WORLD WAR 2 DIDN’T LAST THIS LONG AND WE WERE FIGHTING one war but THREE COUNTRIES AND THE SMALLEST COUNTRY WAS BIGGER THAN IRAQ.
Sometimes we can over estimate “things!”
Posted by: khaida white | June 9, 2009, 5:40 pm 5:40 pm
I love Lisa Ling; she is such a humanitarian. I hate this is happening to her.
Posted by: khaida white | June 9, 2009, 5:55 pm 5:55 pm
reganfan, excuse me for saying so, but you sound so bitter against OBAMA. I read your comment saying,”This is just another Obama diversion to
take our attention away from that fact and the facct that our economy is still
sinking fast.”
It seems to me the economy was sinking fast before he took office. If my recollection serves me correctly, our economy was sooooooo great before your friend GEORGE W BUSH took office. I recall there being an excess of several trillions of dollars and then someone concocted this damnable war, lying about who did 911 and lying about WMD being in IRAQ. AFTER MUCH TO DO ABOUT NOTHING, which is MAKING SOME PEOPLE BUY DUCT TAPE AND MASK and discovering there were no weapons and SADDAM HUSSEIN was NOT the cause of 911, we discovered that we were not only BULLIES for jumping on a small nation and fighting an uncalled for war, but it had caused us to spend up the trillions of dollars that Bill Clinton had stored in the treasury and also it had cause us to become indebted to two countries that never had a lot of love for us for decades. Now all of this took place long before OBAMA became POTUS. Even before he became a Senator and was mostly an unknown… AMERICA started losing jobs to other countries thanks to NAFTA. Nafta encouraged greed that was already very prevalent in our country; greed which was/is hungry for bling bling and ca-ching,
ca-ching, ca-channnng; greed that was BLIND to foreclosures, homelessness and out of control cost of living. Because of NAFTA, merchants could take their jobs and products out of the country and have it manufactured for almost nothing in comparison with what it was costing them here to produce it. OBAMA HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT. Your beef should not be with President Obama. Your beef should be with your own party. NEVER have this country been in this bad of shape. Even during the great depression because we weren’t fighting a war and depression at the same time during the early thirties.
Speaking of war and depression…..it is something to think about that the great depression was started by a republican president and the highest unemployment was ALWAYS during the republicans administration.
EISENHOWER promised to bring the boys home if the country elected him as a republican president. He kept his promise. He brought the boys home and that is where they stayed…HOME! the boys could be found 24-7 because they didn’t have jobs. I remember NIXON’s long UNEMPLOYMENT LINES
snaking around unemployment offices across the land. Also, I hate to burst anyone’s bubble but “the highest unemployment rate in the post World War II era was 10.8% and that occurred a couple of years into the Reagan term of office.”
So please tell me what is the real reason you have so much disdain for THE most beloved PRESIDENT America have ever had besides Clinton, Kennedy, Roosevelt and maybe Reagan!
Posted by: khaida white | June 10, 2009, 2:53 am 2:53 am
Kahida, you said we had billions sitting around when Bush got in office, in 2000 we had a 6 trillion dollar debt.
Clintons years were good for investers until the dot com bubble burst and the economy tanked. Where were those billions sitting ? Furthermore, since the democrats decided low lifes were entitled to other people’s money through welfare we will always be in more debt
Posted by: bob | June 10, 2009, 8:48 am 8:48 am