SEOUL, South Korea – North Korea's top court convicted two American journalists and sentenced them to 12 years in labor prison Monday, intensifying the reclusive nation's confrontation with the United States.

The North's Central Court tried TV reporters Laura Ling and Euna Lee during proceedings running from last Thursday to Monday and found them guilty of a "grave crime" against the nation, and of illegally crossing into North Korea, the country's state-run Korean Central News Agency said.

It said the court "sentenced each of them to 12 years of reform through labor." The KCNA report gave no other details.

Ling and Lee — who were working for former Vice President Al Gore's California-based Current TV — cannot appeal because they were tried in North Korea's highest court, where decisions are final.

Many analysts believe there is a good chance the two woman will be freed. They say the reporters are being used by Pyongyang as bargaining chips in its standoff with South Korea and the United States, which are pushing for U.N. sanctions to punish the North for its latest nuclear test and a barrage of missile tests.

By sentencing them to prison, North Korea has "paved the way for a political pardon and a diplomatic solution," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at Seoul's University of North Korean Studies.

He noted that a pardon can only be issued after a conviction and that the regime's courts were not about to find the reporters innocent, which would imply they were wrongly arrested.

Kim Yong-hyun, a professor at Seoul's Dongguk University, said the sentence — the maximum possible allowed by the North's laws — could have been a reaction to strong statements from the U.S., including threats of sanctions and putting North Korea back on a list of state sponsors of terrorism.

"I think this is the North's response to recent hard-line moves by the U.S.," Kim said. "But the sentence doesn't mean much because the issue will be resolved diplomatically in the end."

The circumstances surrounding the trial of the two journalists and their arrest March 17 on the China-North Korean border have been shrouded in secrecy, as is typical of the reclusive nation. The trial was not open to the public or foreign observers, including the Swedish Embassy, which looks after American interests in the absence of diplomatic relations.

The two were reporting about the trafficking of women at the time of their arrest, and it's unclear if they strayed into the North or were grabbed by aggressive border guards who crossed into China.

U.S. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said Washington was trying to confirm press reports of the sentencing.

Kelly said the U.S. was "deeply concerned" about the sentences and that officials would "engage in all possible channels" to free the women.

Gore spokeswoman Kalee Kreider said the former vice president has no comment. The South Korean government also did not comment. Alanna Zahn, a spokeswoman for the journalists' families, said the family members are not currently available for any interviews.

Another American who was tried in North Korea in 1996 was treated more leniently. Evan C. Hunziker, apparently acting on a drunken dare, swam across the Yalu River — which marks the North's border with China — and was arrested after farmers found the man, then 26, naked. He was accused of spying and detained for three months before being freed after negotiations with a special U.S. envoy.

The North Koreans wanted Hunziker to pay a $100,000 criminal fine but eventually agreed on a $5,000 payment to settle a bill for a hotel where he was detained.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090608/ap_on_...ournalists_held

Stupid @$$ Americans who think they can just do anything they want, including illegally entering another sovereign nation without permission. Do they not understand what it means to illegaly enter a country? The U.S. arrests, jails, and deports all illegal Mexicans who are caught trying to cross the border. Who do these two journalists think they are?

They were just pawns for America. Reporting for a country? They are nothing more than spies really.

the two reporters only have themselves to blame. they had a choice not to go to that region and with tensions high one must question their judgement.

So reporters should only go where it's safe? Are you now a mouthpiece for the Norks?

are you stupid? what archeologist said is right.

No, are you? Do you believe that truth and news should be reported from afar? Do you think crossing the border illegally is something that should be punishable by 12 years hard labor? Do you think that the Norks are telling the truth when they say the women crossed illegally? I tend to believe their defense that they were kidnapped from the Chinese side when they tried to shoot video and photos. Do you think just because the Norks are evil they and everyone knows it theat they shouldn't be criticized for human rights violations, that journalists should just stay out of their way? You need some critical thinking skills, especisally if you agree with archaeologist.

Ok then you are a white geek loser.

Owie, you called me a name, boohooohooo . Not white, not a geek though I wish I had some geek skills, not half the loser you are for having zero, I mean zero, critical thinking skills. By the way, the guy you're leg-humping , archaeologist, exactly what you described me as. Ahahahaha, the irony is sweet. Like I saisd, zero critical thinking skills.

Question1: If they go to where they know they will be harmed, arrested, jailed or made into a pawn then they have no right to complain, whine, or protest the wrongs done to them. They chose to go into those regions.

Question 2: Where did you get that idea? of course not, but i am trying to keep this in the proper perspective. it seems that westerners (americans) think that they can go anywhere, do anything they want and nothing should happen to them simply because they are westerners (americans). life just doesn't work that way and the west (america) is too cowardly to protect its people for fear of war, reprisals, animosity and so on. this isn't like the ancient world where rome would exact retribution for hurting romans.

i wish people like tyrex would learn to think instead of relying on this entitled attitude americans and other westerners maintain.



Not the issue. north korea is free to impose any sentence they want (whether just or not), after all they are an independent nation allowed to govern their own land. the injustice america and others are crying about means nothing when they apply injustice to their own people, immigrants and trespassors all the time.



Proof please. were you there? do you have photos? what you believe about this means nothing without credible and verifiable evidence. as it stands you are just being a distorter and troublemaker.



do you believe that when soldiers go to war, they should not be killed? even if they step in front of a bullet? get real and grow up.



no, you need lessons in reality and grow up. these two reporters did something wrong and they should NOT get a pat on the back nor declared heros for their mistakes. they need to be fired from their jobs if they are set free.

Goodness, archie, quite the little facist aren't you? Never question the state, never try to achieve justice for others, etc. You really are a headcase. Nobody's calling these women heroes, they are trying to get them released from a Nork gulag. You're a strange example of a christian.

and people wonder why i do not talk to you. try to get it right for once instead of turning every response into ammunition for another personal attack. sure 12 years is excessive BUT the women WERE WRONG. try to get that concept into your cognitive capibilities.

now rebut honestly or shut up.

Considering you live in a fascist police state shouldn't you be pointing your fingers at your own govt. instead?

What fascist police state would that be?

Archie, you live in a strange world where authority is never to be challenged. I live in a world where justice is to be sought everyday. I prefer my world.

you know nothing about my world and you are mistaken about authority never being challenged. actually, it is 'whose' authority and we do NOT challenge God's because He is right, perfect, smarter etc. than us and this is His world and He gets to set the rules.

we can and do challenge the authority of those men or women who abuse, misapply, misuse God's word or become dictators etc. justbecause some christians do not, doesn't mean that the option to challenge is not present.

we are to be just and filled with mercy, but it is God's justice we use not our own. The Bible says "i have told you, o man, what you is required of you. Love mercy, do justly and humble thyself to walk with God.

justice AND mercy are to be present in the christian life.

as for the 2 journalists, i do not feel that 12 years is just but they made the error, they went in where they shouldn't have, they had the choice to NOT go, they only have themselves to blame. they will need to be gratefill if they get released but americans need to learn that they are not above the laws of other countries. too many americans travel overseas and think the american law applies in all countries. it does NOT.

they are subject to the laws of the land they are in and they would be wise to brush up on the laws and keep in mind that it will happen to them if they do stupid things like these two journalists.

p.s.--your ideas of christianity doesn't matter, you have to learn God's ways to get the true picture.

Ah there it is. It's because they are Americans. Once again, and I knew it wouldn't take long, Archie's anti-Americanism comes to the fore.

another distortion and another lie. when will you learn to respond correctly without flaming and falsely accusing someone?

read the whole response NOT just what you want to hear.

America!!!




Tell that to your superiors. If it ever challenge American system you usually end up dead like Martin Luther King and so on.

I question why they were there too. They shouldn't go where it is that dangerous unless they are willing to accept the possiblity of being taken captive. However, I don't hate America.



Yeah, the USA really compares to North Korea. NOT



Martin Luther King was called a Communist like Obama. Of course, I don't always side with far right. The far right viewed the civil rights movement as being a Russian plot. Of course, your typical Fox News viewers would never support segregation nowadays. However, if they had lived in the 1960's then they would be arguing for "state's rights", "Small government" The same stuff they're complaining about now. Plus they would be arguing in favor of segregation.

Who can tell why King was killed? But I still don't side with socialist thinking but King has some good ideas. He was simply exposing all the racist crap going on in the USA.

See how fascist American system can be. If you don't agree with white American ideology you either get harassed, tortured, or killed. America isn't any better than NK. if anything you get to eat. that is all!

Come on man? You really believe that? Sure, the USA was a bad place for blacks 50 years ago but now it's way different. Even 50 years ago blacks were better off in the USA then in China or the Soviet Union.

Sure, I agree that racism is a bunch of crap. No doubt about it. That's why I mentioned that some of the criticism of King was not justified.

Of course I believe people should be payed a fair wage like King. But I don't think adopting a Soviet or North Korean system is the best way. People are angry because of the low wages. For example, look at Chinese factories.

Nothing has changed. America is more fascist than ever. Just because white America acts nice in front of other people doesn't mean ugly stuff doesn't happen in closed doors.

Chinese did not kidnap blacks from Africa like whites (on a much larger scale than KJI in NK is doing)
and exploited their slave labor for decades.

Yes, but that was like 160 years ago. America can't be judged for that now. Kim Jong Ill keeps his own people in slavery. It's not on the scale of the African slave trade but numbers don't matter. Evil is evil.

Of course, for the rest of time being, America will be judged for that.
The blacks in the USA will be the evidence of your fail.

Its a difference if you enslave your own people or kidnap other people and exploit them.

if you want modern evidence ---the dixie chicks were vilified, harassed, threatened after they made the simple comment thatthey were embarrsed to be from the same state as bush jr.

or how about the murders of abortion doctors or the blowing up of their clinics? i am not for abortion but i am also not for murder or violence against people. their employment is not justification to harm anyone.

the americans have no leg to stand on when it comes to the acts of others, they should be setting the standard on how people should be treated not saying one thing then doing another. not one american would support a 'regime change' if it were done to their president,so why are they trying to subvert other nation's ruling leaders/ granted many are despicable but it is up to that country's own people to do somethign about it not america.

by the way, america still practices slavery in a sense. just check out a lot of the low paying, small business jobs being done as the employees are treated worse than people claim the NETs are in this land. it is the same for almost all western countries.

I didn't know you were a Dixie Chicks fan, Archie. I pegged you more for a Jonas Brothers groupie.
And how about the murders of the abortion doctors? Your fellow xtians just aren't much when it comes to tolerance, eh, archie?

Realk, ignorance is something that can be cured. Shut up and most of the symptoms disappear right away. One, I am not living in the US, two, you know little of fascism if you think the US is a fascist state. You might be the only person here who has a more warped view than archie. Good company you keep.

it is clear that tyrex is merely a troll who likes to flame others and talking to him is just a waste but one more time i will address his idiocy.



insult coupled with a personal attack. one does not need to be a fan to know what takes place in the world.



what about them/ i made a statement concerning those acts, try to keep up. who says such people are truly christian?



you and c.c. need to take your advice. please.



you obviously limit your view of america if you think it is not a police state or heading towards being one.



using a subjective issue to level more personal attacks. shows you know very little.