Journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee Sentenced to 12 Years in North Korea Labor Prison

Related Links:

Committee to Protect Journalists statement (June 8): North Korea sentences U.S. journalists to 12 years

Richard Prince (June 8): U.S. Women Will Be Bargaining Chips, Some Believe

Emil Amok (June 8): Laura Ling and Euna Lee, the new face of U.S./North Korean Impasse

AP (June 8): US working to win release of journalists in NKorea

Washington Post (June 8): North Korea Convicts 2 U.S. Journalists

New York Times (June 8): North Korea Sentences U.S. Journalists to 12 Years of Hard Labor

AlterNet (June 5): North Korea Silent on Fate of Two U.S. Journalists

Roxana Saberi: supportive statement

Baynewser (June 5): Gore to Korea for Reporters' Freedom?

MSNBC (June 1): Loved ones ‘terrified’ for captured journalists

Facebook: Free Laura Ling and Euna Lee (US Journalists Detained in North Korea)


Nationwide Vigils For Journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee Wednesday, June 3, 2009

L.A. vigil held for detained journalists

Northern California Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (May 19): Northern California Chapter of Society of Professional Journalists Deeply Concerned About June 4 Trial for Journalists Held in North Korea

New York Times: North Korea to Put U.S. Journalists on Trial

Richard Prince: N. Korea to Try U.S. Journalists on June 4

(June 1, 2009) The Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) calls for redoubled diplomatic efforts to seek the release of American journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling as they face trial in North Korea June 4. Breaking their two-month silence, the families of the journalists appeared on American television June 1 to urge that the women's release be resolved separately of the geopolitics dominating the world stage over the past week.

Lee and Ling, who were detained March 17 for allegedly crossing the border into North Korea, have been held for 76 days. They had told relatives before they left that they had no intention of crossing the border, Laura Ling's sister, Lisa Ling, told NBC-TV's Today Show host. The families have sent a letter to the North Korean government apologizing on the journalists' behalf for any mistaken or inadvertent crossing of the border. North Korea and the United States do not have diplomatic relations. Swedish diplomats have visited the journalists twice on behalf of the United States and carried letters back to families.

"We urge that both governments and all parties in a position to assist in diplomatic relations to strongly pursue ways to free these two journalists," said AAJA National President Sharon Chan. "Their families have said they were doing their jobs as journalists and had no intent of entering North Korea. We hope that a way will be found to return these two women to their families."

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Five-minute video from San Francisco vigil June 3, includes speech by AAJA's L.A. Chung and a statement sent from Roxana Saberi.