Do you think this was a pre-arranged thing, perhaps? I remember a bunch of leftist Italian and other journalists got “kidnapped” by AQ a couple of years ago and their governments paid a hefty ransom to get them back (under the table, but they paid it nontheless). Then, of course, it emerged that the “journalists” were actually in league with the kidnappers, and it was a money-raising stunt. Since they were leftists, though, they were never punished by their own countries (the ones that had paid to have them “released”).
Just curious, is this the same thing?
That might get a bit conspiratorial. What is most likely is that they are double dealing after the snagging. I.e. they may not have gone there with the intent and collusion of being an inside job, but once they are there, the US, through Gore, will be forced to back channel and de-facto double deal and conspire with DPRK -- all at a price.
Liberal Koreans also got kidnapped by the Taliban, and released at a cost, but not before their own leader was killed by Taliban. People warned this Korean group NOT to go into danger's way.
They work for Al Gore’s propaganda outlet. Anything is possible.