Posted on 07/11/2009 4:20:27 AM PDT by Scanian
SEOUL (AP) | North Korea might release two convicted American journalists if the United States offers a gesture such as an official apology, a U.S.-based scholar who visited Pyongyang said in interviews published Friday.
Laura Ling and Euna Lee were detained in March near the North Korean border with China and sentenced last month to 12 years of hard labor for entering the country illegally and for "hostile acts." The two work for former Vice President Al Gore's California-based Current TV media group.
University of Georgia political scientist Han Park said that the two are being kept at a guesthouse in the North Korean capital, and the delay in sending them to a prison labor camp may be an attempt to seek talks with Washington on their release.
"North Korea's move not to carry out the sentence suggests that it could release them through a dialogue with the United States and they could be set free at an early date, depending on the U.S. gesture," Mr. Park said in a interview with South Korea's JoongAng Ilbo newspaper.
Mr. Park, originally from South Korea, arrived Thursday in Seoul following a trip to Pyongyang.
Separately, Mr. Park told South Korea's Yonhap news agency that the issue of the journalists could be resolved if the U.S. government offers an official apology and promises such things won't happen again.
He also predicted that Washington and Pyongyang could hold a dialogue soon over the journalists' release and their return to the U.S., according to Yonhap. No time frame for a possible meeting was given.
"I heard from North Korean officials that the American journalists were doing fine at a guest house in Pyongyang," Mr. Park told the JoongAng Ilbo.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Held in a “guesthouse” - ya, probably like a little shop of horrors. Give me a break - we’re talking about one of the most vile dictators on earth.
It is hard to conceive that ZerO hasn’t already puckered up to the little dictator yet.
Yes you are correct however, these are leftist journalist that worship Al Gore and the big lie.
No matter what N. Korea does to them it is not even 1/100th of what they truly deserve. In fact decorum does not allow me to post what I really think of these evil leftist democrats. Lets leave it at I hope it takes many years.
Correct.
The two broke NK law, they crossed over the border illegally. All to get a story. I have no sympathy for them.
Why would our government apologize for two reports who broke the law.
Too bad we don’t prosecute those who cross our borders illegally. Instead, we encourage it.
Why should the U.S. apologize for something two reporters who work for AlGore did?
Apology? We need to make an apology?
Have we got the guy for the job, a professional apologist!
Telegram for Obongo, telegram of Obongo.
Excellent point and well said!
Good job.
let Al Gore apologize - yeah, that’s the ticket!
How smart can one be to sneak into north Korea and then ask to be set free oh wait it’s the media line of thinking.
The only debate in the White House is how long and how deep they are going to kiss Kim Jong-il’s butt.
The Pyongyang Hilton I suppose, I understand the Crew of the USS Pueblo stayed there, the accommodations are legendary.
AlGore can apologize. They are his reporters.
How smart can one be to sneak into north Korea and then ask to be set free oh wait it’s the media line of thinking.
Dont forget that one of these girls sister’s had already snuck into N. Korea and made a blistering documentary.
Then she decides to do her sister one better. She is lucky to still be alive.Brains are not her forte’
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