Families Of North Korean Detainees Speak!!!
Filed under: Legal Matters > Politik
After the sentencing of journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee to 12 years hard labor for "committing hostilities against the Korean nation and illegal entry," their families have released the following statement.
"The families of Laura Ling and Euna Lee are shocked and devastated by the outcome their trial. Laura and Euna are journalists who went to the China-North Korea border to do a job. We don't know what really happened on March 17, but if they wandered across the border without permission, we apologize on their behalf and we are certain that they have also apologized. We believe that the three months they have already spent under arrest with little communication with their families is long enough. We ask the Government of North Korea to show compassion and grant Laura and Euna clemency and allow them to return home to their families."
Amen!
Both families are "very concerned about their mental state and well being," especially because Ling suffers from a stomach ulcer.
Also, Euna's 4 year old daughter has been miserable in the absence of her mother.
Heartbreaking!
We hope that North Korea can put aside politics for the safe return of these women.
[Image via AP Images.]
sucks how north korea is handling this situation and and not releasing these women. they did no harm and 12 years is bull shit.
that's sad. I have a feeling in the near future, we will go to war with North Korea.
Oh yeah this will help. Kim Jong Il will listen now that celeb wannabee Perez has commented on the situation.
Praying here for a safe return of both these reporters.
This is a very sad situation. I'm not hopeful the N. Korean government will be moved by any pleas from the families. This type of regime only understands and responds to force. I hope our government acts accordingly and demands their return or suffer the consequences. This sort of totalitarian system is a plague to humanity and should be removed at any cost. Not only do they imprison and murder their own helpless citizens, now they've moved onto foreigners in some demented show of force. I can only pray these women stay strong mentally so as not to give these cretins the satisfaction of seeing them broken.
Brave, brave journalists! I pray for their release.
there is no diplomacy when you are dealing with countries like north korea. they could give a shit less about 'talking' and making nice.
I'm sorry they got such a long sentence. I'm sure they will not have to serve all of it with all the political pressure being brought on N. Korea. But still, what story was so important that they had to risk imprisonment? I think both of them had a screw loose. There is nothing noble about risking your life over a damn news report! I'm sorry to hear about the 4-year-old, but that mother made her choice; a very bad one.
Those girls are probably being badly mistreated and Obama needs to get them home NOW. It's unbelievable he can spend off a printing press 2 thrillion dollars but can't pull a women out of North Korea.
Oh my gosh, it's really not all rainbows and unicorns in the world! There are actually bad people that need to be put in their place - who'd a thunk it? Will Obama actually act on a threat? Oh, and one bit of advice for all of you rabble-rousers out there: don't illegally cross borders into countries where they regularly jail people for reporting honestly on politics and regimes. Hmmm, coming soon to the USA???
okay what part didn,t cross your mind of how much shit you gals were going to be in when you knowingly crossed into N Korea.Hey i can,t stand that dump of a country either,but are you chickas nuts.All that,just so you could get a story and one of you had a young child at home.What all of us should keep in mind is that the laws of land in different countries differ from our punishment,so don,t come crying to your goverment because you have yourself in a pickle in a foreign land.Oh by the way,there won,t be a war between N kOREA and the US, cause on nuke rocket from them fuckers is going to blast everyone into obilvion.
Re: SWEETPIECE! – Oh sweetpeice! I love my sweetpeice. Even if you are a liberal. Your bunny ears just never fail to comfort me. Alright, I'm done.
These 2 women are not stupid, they knew what they were doing. It is no secret that in N. Korea what they were doing is illegal and carries a punishment for it. Everytime i leave the bar after a few too many drinks I know that I am taking a risk and if I get caught by the cops, Im done, these women knew it too. do not feel bad for them, they broke the law!! Now they are hoping that the US government will save them, well just like that moron that got caught spray-painting in Thailand a few years back and got canned for it, so too should these 2 women pay their price. This is why the world hates americans, we are arrogant and think we can go anywhere and do anything. Stop feeling bad for them and start teaching your kids that breaking the law, anywhere in the world, is punishable.
we're talking about a dictator that lets his people eat tree bark to stay alive while he builds a nuclear bomb.I hope both are returned but what they did was illegal and the North is making an example of them!shitty situation
If you are in North Korea, or any other country in the world, you need to obey and be aware of the rules. It never ceases to amaze me how Americans feel that they have some right to do what they please, and then not pay the consequences for their actions. Yes, 12 years seems harsh for such "a small crime" but those are the rules…I am a canadian, and I wonder what would happen to me if I "wandered illegally across the American border?
This reminds me of another situation where a young man was caned for his vandalism, and everyone was in an uproar about it…these countries have a different justice system then America…I'm not saying that I agree with the severity of the punishments, but I would certainly be respecting those laws if I was a guest there.
They will probably be released, but it's funny how journalists think they can enter illegal areas and think being from the united states and being journalists automatically makes them above the laws of all other countries…
Re: la poopsiekins –
part of me totally agrees with you… don't get me wrong, its a sad and pathetic thing what happened to these girls… but the one thing i have earned is if you plan on travelling in this world.. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!
otherwise you can get 12 years for having your pinky toe in the wrong spot…
Re: Genghis Khan – are you fucking kidding? NK is a freaking explosive situation not including the situation with these 2 journalists. You want Obama to get into it with crazy, nuke loving, jump suit wearing Kim Jong IL OVER 2 WOMEN. GET A FUCKING CLUE!!
I am very sorry to the women in this situation and I do pray for them BUT, they of all people being informed journalists KNEW the consequences annd shouldnt have put themselves at such risks
I agree this is tragic, but why in the hell would they go anywhere near that border??!! How stupid!
Wake up people! It's NORTH KOREA, not America. Different rules, different value of life, etc. I hope they are safe, but come on… they did it to themselves.
protesting is not going to get them released. this nut and his fellow nuts in arms kill their own people-think they care about some american women? Euna should have thought long and hard about going with a 4 yo daughter at home. Was their journalistic work so important to risk their lives Mr Gore? We basically know what goes in these countries, through spies, escapees and spy satellites, why do journalists risk their lives to write a story that most people already either know about, don't care about, is not important to them, or cant do anything about?
Re: sherlock2g –
So it's acceptable to war go to with North Korea because 2 disrespectful journalist though they were above North Korea's law, but when over 3,000 people died on 911, it's wrong?
Liberal idiot!
sorry but those girls had to have known they were crossing the border
i really don't think they are that stupid
rich liberal journalists working for Al Gore's tv show….do they think they are exempt from the law?? i don't get it.
Hello! Hasn't/shouldn't Obama be doing something about this?
Once again, good work Al Gore!!!!!!
All of you sob sisters need to read the Gulog Archipeligo. Korean work camps are much worse.
Obama could get them released in a few hours. It is not the best time yet for him to benefit politically. When the time is rightfor him, he will have them freed.
Re: RutRoe – i think sherlock meant we will probably be going to war with nk regardless of the journalists situation, i.e. the nukes.
Re: Mistfit – Hello! What do you think Obama should do?
I don't get how they "wandered" into North Korea. Isn't the border between China and North Korea a river????
North Korea should just be nuked. The problem of weather they are bad or not would be eliminated in about 2.5 seconds.
I'm sorry Perez, but did you just hear yourself? "We hope that North Korea can put aside politics for the safe return of these women." Have you heard of Kim Jong-il? Put aside politics…that's funny.
Re: Genghis Khan – 12 I am glad they comfort you. I'm getting through in some small way!
This is not a matter for my man Obama.
Let my other man Al take care of it.
God bless them.
Not to worry, Al's on his way!
You can't just take a stroll over the North Korean border. To enter that country you either need official State clearance, like Lisa Ling (who is the sister of one of the detainees) received a few years ago through National Geographic, or you need to be smuggled in somehow. No matter how screwed up that country may be, they still have their own laws that foreigners must respect if they choose to take the risk to enter.
Our nation should always be vigilant against tyranny, and I do think that every effort should be made to get these two back, but let's not get carried away with painting them as innocent victims.
pray for these women!!!!!! this is a devistating situation!
WHY DON'T WE JUST GO INTO NORTH KOREA AND BOMB THE FUCK OUT OF THEM?
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BALLESS OBAMA WILL DO NOTHING YOU CAN BET!!!
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IF I WERE PRESIDENT I'D MARCH INTO NORTH KOREA AND BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF THEIR PRESIDENT.
They're making an example of these women probably. N. K doesn't fuck around. I hope these two make it home soon but I honestly don't feel sorry for them.
Re: SWEETPIECE! – Brave? How about STUPID. They should have known better. If they just followed the rules they wouldn't be in this mess, and dragging the US government into it and weakening our position with N.Korea.
This does not bode well for them or our country. North Korea has a very devious agenda…so sad and scary
Precisely why I will never go to Korea. Didn't they see Brokedown Palace? Did they think Korea was better than Thailand? Sure they're beautiful countries, but so not worth the trouble.
Re: Joey Baggodonughts – You compare their reporting to your drunk driving? You're an ass! You showed your IQ right there with THAT comparison.
As for theses ladies, I don't think anybody can possibly conceive of how horrid a North Korean labor camp would be. I am so worried about these women. The North Korean government is a hard-ass, unfeeling one. They are NOT known for their mercy. I have my doubts as to the hope of their early release. I hope I'm wrong.
I do think it's really wrong for the parent of minor children (male or female) to take a risk like this. But she did. That's done. Now is not the time to focus on that. Now is the time to lobby for their release.
And those who say we must respect North Korean laws. Are you effing serious? How much do you know about North Korea? Really??? This world has not seen a government like this in MANY MANY years. It makes the former USSR look like angels among men. There is NOTHING to respect about these people, not even their sovereignty.
Now GD Bush has decimated our military as we face this ever increasing North Korean threat. I said at the beginning of his stupid war that we couldn't afford to spread out army so thin with North Korea in the mix. I really should rule the world (kidding obviously).
Re: euadorovocebaby – Fine. But don't EVER ask anybody to give you a break when you eff up. EVER. If you can't feel sorry for 2 women sentenced to 12 years in the HELL that is a North Korean labor camp…you have nothing but stone where there should be a heart. Do you comprehend their living conditions? No scum on Earth could deserve what they are living. Don't YOU ever ask for a second chance, an understanding heart or any forgiveness in YOUR life for YOU or you're a complete hypocrite.
I don't like North Korea one bit. But they do have some really strict laws on foreigners crosses their borders. It is their law. These two did know the rules and the law and broke them anyway to get a good story.
I feel sorry for them and their families. I am sure it's hell. But when a country has a law - stupid or not - obey it - otherwise you may find yourself in a foreign prison. Is a good news story really worth this - now they are not reporting the news - but creating it.
So where is the obese cow Al Bore in all this??????????????? They were working for his shit fake 'news' organization and now they are suffering for it! Word of warning to any employees of the Gorbacle–he does not give a shit about you! We have Messiah Hussein in the White House who will do nothing either! Typical demoncrats!
Terrible place–but don't go if you can't face the circumstances!!!!
Re: poopdiddy2008 – Any serious journalist these days is brave. Brave to maybe expose the plight of the North Korean people. Brave to face the ugliness of the world head on. Or would you rather them take the typical Repube approach and just hide their head in the sand and take it up the ass?
Oh, yeah, you are called poop. You are ass fixated.
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They damn well knew better,now the kid has to suffer because of that stupid decision.
Gosh what happened??? I thought Obama was going to heal the world and everyone would like us again? How's that working out so far?!?!
WHAT EVER THE REST OF THE PEOPLE SAY …………….I AGREE????????????
Re: SWEETPIECE! – Huh? How dumb are you? You don't have to go very far to read about the plight of the N. Koreans. Perhaps you should pick up a bood sometime rather than get your news from Perez and the like. The 'journalists' were STUPID, like you.
Re: Chawnie23 – You wouldn't be sentenced to 12 years in a labor camp. And as for everyone that assumes these women knew they were crossing into N. Korea as that government claims, these women had a guide. It's not as if they were experts on Chinese/N.Korean geography. How dense can you be people.
Re: poopdiddy2008 – Ah ha ha! OMG! I will pick up a bood! Love it!
Oh yes, this is where I get my news!
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Go down some EXLAX and get over yourself! You stink! Pun intended!
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Something this serious and I'm talking with shit! Hmmm….
my god this is just so so sad. my heart goes out to them and their families.
Re: SWEETPIECE! – i guess it takes one to know one.
THOSE PEOPLE R CRAZY
I'm going to play the truth card here. Don't fuck around with serious fire if you don't want to get a serious burn.
If you enter a country like North Korea illegally (which is appears that they have admitted to), don't act surprised if your ass ends up in a dark hole somewhere.
It's funny that everyone unvaded Iraq easily in the name of freedom (and oil and money and business of course) and no one cares about what happens in Zimbabwe or North Korea…
let them be free!!!!!!
these 2 idiots wanted a major story and tried to cross one of the most fortified borders in the world
stupidity and greed probably dont deserve 12 years but they really need their asses kicked