american journalists in north korea

two American journalists, Ms. Ling and Ms. Lee , sentenced to 12 years of hard labor for entering North Korean territory.

Clearly, the sentencing on Monday of Laura Ling, 32, and Euna Lee, 36, to serve in North Korea’s famously brutal labor camps — where stories of starvation, overwork and mistreatment are legion — greatly complicated the Obama administration’s agenda. The administration has been working at the United Nations Security Council for a series of new sanctions that would both cut off funds to North Korea and interdict cargo, to search for missiles, weapons or nuclear technology.


Lisa Ling told ABC that the two journalists were working on a story about the trafficking of North Korean women into China when they were detained, but other reports said they were reporting on North Korean refugees. The exact circumstances of their arrest remain unclear.