Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Two Americans Get 'Hard Labor' in N. Korea

A human-rights activist says North Korea is using two kidnapped American journalists as pawns in order to get more concessions from the United States.

The sister of an American journalist jailed in North Korea says the woman acknowledged breaking North Korean law during a recent phone call. Lisa Ling told KCRA-TV in Sacramento she spoke to her sister Laura Ling late Tuesday. Lisa Ling said Laura told her she and the other American journalist being held, Euna Lee, violated North Korean law and need the U.S. government's help in obtaining amnesty.

At the time they were captured, the two women were working for San Francisco-based Current TV, which former U.S. Vice President Al Gore helped found. They were sentenced last month to 12 years of hard labor for illegal entry and "hostile acts."


Suzanne Scholte, chairman of the North Korea Freedom Coalition, says the two women are clearly being used as pawns by the regime.

Read it all here.

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