North Korea playing a dangerous game by jailing U.S. journalists
Today North Korea sentenced two U.S. journalists to 12 years of hard labor for simply doing their jobs. Euna Lee and Laura Ling were arrested March 17 near the China-North Korea border while reporting about the trafficking of North Korean women. According to news accounts (see NPR story and coverage at Committee to Protect Journalists), the convictions for allegedly illegally entering the country are really intended to serve as a bargaining chip as North Korea and the U.S. wrangle over atomic weapons testing. Journalists are being used as pawns. Some observers say diplomatic discussions will result in their release.
North Korea's actions are outrageous and this will win the country little favor internationally. While we have our own government bullies who jail journalists willy-nilly (e.g., Maricopa County (Phoenix) sheriff Joe Arpaio - see previous entries at FOI FYI), this shows the true colors of repressive regimes. If North Korea wants to be treated with respect then it needs to act in a way that is deserving of respect. Release the journalists.