North Korea’s must overturn ‘cruel verdict’ on detained journos :NYT
June 9th, 2009 - 3:49 pm ICT by ANINew York, June 9 (ANI): The verdict by a North Korean court to jail two American journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling, could further sour the already estranged relationship between Washington and Pyongyang, an editorial in the New York Times said.
North Korea’s bankrupt justice system may have further aggravated problems for the country by awarding 12 years of hard labor to Lee and Ling.
Such a cruel and inhumane verdict could probably see the United States take some harsh steps against the island nation, it added.
The verdict is seen to have being driven by North Korea’s succession saga, or escalating tensions with the United States over Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program, but there is no excuse for their (journalists) detention or this outrageous sentence, the editorial opined.
The Obama administration may have been working vigorously with the diplomatic levers to set the journalists free, but is should also urge China, North Korea’s main food and fuel supplier, to speak up for the two journalists.
If all the initiatives fail to bring a change in North Korea’s attitude, it would only worsen relations with President Obama, who had joined office amid calls for stringent sanctions on North Korea, the editorial concludes. (ANI)
- North Korea detains another US citizen - Apr 14, 2011
- US journalist Ling names daughter after Bill Clinton - Jun 05, 2010
- Bill Clinton arrives in North Korea to secure release of Americans - Aug 04, 2009
- Homecoming for Laura Ling, Euna Lee - Aug 06, 2009
- Journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling Rescued By Clinton - Aug 06, 2009
- Swedish ambassador meets with U.S. journalists held in North Korea - Jun 24, 2009
- Laura Ling and Euna Lee gets 12 years in jail - Jun 08, 2009
- Nothing has changed: US sends out stern message to N. Korea - Aug 06, 2009
- Gov. Schwarzenegger applauds the release of California journalists - Aug 05, 2009
- North Korea to try US journalists - May 14, 2009
- Bill Clinton meets Obama to discuss North Korea trip - Aug 19, 2009
- Bill Clinton persuades N Korea to free two American reporters - Aug 05, 2009
- U.S. journalists to be reunited with family in Los Angeles - Aug 05, 2009
- Laura Ling put on trial by the North Korean government - Jun 04, 2009
- Laura Ling Honors Her Freedom & Sister With Miracle Baby - May 21, 2010
Tags: american journalists, attitude, excuse, food and fuel, fuel supplier, initiatives, island nation, justice system, korean court, laura ling, levers, new york times, north korea, nuclear weapons program, nyt, pyongyang, saga, sanctions on north korea, succession, tensions
