Community | August 04, 2009 | 266 comments

North Korea releases journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee after Clinton visit

source: http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE5735XL20090804

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MilchMann
Bill Clinton has negotiated the release of two American journalists imprisoned in North Korea.
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266 comments // North Korea releases journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee after Clinton visit

  • thenerdykat
  • xiola
    • 0
      xiola  
    • thenerdykat:

      Yeah, I was kind of wondering if they would continue working with Current. I mean, how terrified they must have been! How physically and mentally exhausted they must be. I don't know if I'd be able to resume the same job after something like that. I'd probably just need a lot of therapy!

    • 2 years ago
  • 1Eco_Media
  • 1Eco_Media
  • 1Eco_Media
    • 0
      1Eco_Media  

    • Sad that anyone would find humor in a story about any Gov. being involved in selling woman for profit.

      Exposing human trafficking is dangerous enough. When you add the fact that it is a Gov. that is doing it, then the story becomes to hard to believe for some it would seem.

      The fact that those women will not see their friends or family again and be sold into the life of a slave doesn't seem to matter much to those who might wish to twist the story around to suit their needs.

      It's as if the women being sold don't even matter.

      How is that possible. How could anyone not have some small amount of concern for anyone being sold like a slave?

      Have we become so cold and heartless about our fellow human beings simply because they are not Americans?

      What does that say about us as a people?

    • 2 years ago
  • MoonLoon
    • 0
      MoonLoon  

    • Let us consider long term political strategy. The journalists work for Al Gore, they are captured by N. Korea, and released into the hands of Bill Clinton, who was Gore's former boss. Obama is removed from the negotiations, thus receiving no political benefit. How convenient for Bill, Hilary, and Al! Do you children out there really think that Bill and Al had no previous contact with N. Korean leadership. This was a set up from the beginning. Smart strategy but lacking in subtlelty. Another example of U.S. politicians being manipulated by foreign interests. This is my laugh for the day!

    • 2 years ago
  • lifestudentno83
  • lucidstone
    • 0
      lucidstone  
    • MoonLoon:

      Moon,

      Are you implying that you are even speculating that Al Gore sent them there to be captured in order to set up a scenario for Al, Bill, and Hillary to somehow look like heros and gain a political advantage over Obama?

      If so, that is the most insane thing I've ever heard on this website (and I've heard a lot of really stupid shit on Current.com) . . . If that's not what you meant, then I withdraw my remarks and ask you to clarify your meaning.

      And Obama is removed from the circle because it would do much less for US interests to have the President "directly" involved in this, not because he was circumvented by political maneuvering.

      Right wingers are already decrying that allowing a meeting with a "former" president on a "private" humanitarian mission was giving the DPRK to much . . . and you want to give Kim direct oval office involvement???

      I understand the subtleties in politics (wording, intonations, phrasing, strategy) as well the subtleties involved in regards to diplomacy with traditional conservative Koreans who think they are the king of the world (you should meet my Korean step-father) . . . so it's not from ignorance or naivety when I say that I think you are completely incorrect in suggesting that there is another more sinister factor in play.

    • 2 years ago
  • MilchMann
    • 0
      MilchMann  
    • MoonLoon:

      Wow lucidstone, you really are my hero of the week.

      Moonloon, it appears it did not take long to prove my point from the other conversation.

      wow, I got a good laugh out of that, thanks.

    • 2 years ago
  • MoonLoon
    • 0
      MoonLoon  
    • MoonLoon:

      The plot will unravel, I suspect. "Lucid", your step-father is Korean, so you are now an expert? Last year I had to collect $6.8 million on past due invoices from Daewoo. I got all of the money owed us. Now you want to tell me how to deal with Koreans? Some of the toughest negotiaters in the World. Bill gave them something! It will be eventually be brought to light.

    • 2 years ago
  • lucidstone
    • 0
      lucidstone  
    • MoonLoon:

      Moon,
      You didn't answer the previous question of what you are actually speculating. And I gotta say I'm a bit concerned of how much of a limb are you going out on?

      And yes, I probably understand more about how to be diplomatic with traditional conservative Korean men more than anyone on this website due to the peculiar hand life gave me by having the Korean step father that I lived with for a number of years.

      Every evening the routine for a long time wold to play a game of Baduk (we call it Go) as he would tell me what was going on the Korean news that he just watched. It's sad that we don't play anymore, I should have learned to throw the game more often as I think losing to often hurt his sense of pride and destroyed the vital spectrum of the teacher-student relationship.

      More than likely he shares the same attitudes, cultural principles, and beliefs (other than the fact he hates communism and the Northern government) as he came from a "very" wealthy background, his family was actually ranked, and was trained in all of the formal etiquette for lack of a better term, royalty, and never quite Americanized when he moved to the US in his 20's. He is a virtual time capsule of Korean culture from the time of their civil war (where he was an actual refugee as the North specifically targeted wealthy families).

      Since the DPRK highly stresses traditional conservativism, I think it's most likely that they hold the same cultural principles over the importance of proper protocol and the showing of proper respect and all of the subtleties involved that are required just to remain polite. If you haven't experienced it yourself, then I don't think I can properly explain it without giving too much personal family info (this is probably already more about my family than I should say). But they are far far more sensitive to acts of disrespect of the most subtle nature than i could have possibly previously imagined.

      South Korean culture on the other hand, has changed remarkably over the decades . . . to the point when the last time he went back to Seoul, he was disgusted with the behavior of his people. So dealing with a major corporation in South Korea like Daewoo, which would be at the forefront of adjusting to western culture, is apples and oranges next to dealing with a traditional conservative high ranking official from the "hermitic kingdom" where little has changed.

      So yes, I'm intimately familiar on the proper protocol of talking to my step father and his siblings in order that I don't cause offense. And while prolonged first hand experience with a high ranking traditionally conservative Korean family who was there for the Korean War is not a perfect mirror image of dealing with the high ranking individuals in North Korea . . . I venture that they are damn similar as both groups have existed as virtual time capsules.

      South Korea on the other hand has not, and business dealings with the South would not prepare you to hold a dinner conversation that doesn't offend a Korean family that holds traditional conservative values to heart.

      So I stand 100% by my statement that I fully understand the subtleties involved in diplomacy with traditional conservative Koreans . . . I have over a "decade" of very intimate first hand experience with doing just that.

      But please, I really would like to hear you clarify and elaborate your meaning in regards to the above post as it's "current form" remains woefully asinine.

      [edit: And as far as what the price was for Laura's and Euna's freedom . . . I think a meeting/photo op with Bill Clinton was the extent of the price we paid. Showing such a grand display of respect would likely have been payment enough from what I understand about the culture.]

    • 2 years ago
  • 1Eco_Media
    • 0
      1Eco_Media  

    • I can only guess they felt compelled to report the human trafficking story for the sake of the women who would never see their friends or family again.

      It is so very wonderful to see their faces as they come home.

    • 2 years ago
  • 1Eco_Media
  • 2102512
    • 0
      2102512  

    • How cocky of a human being is Euna Lee? And her partner! Even though there was a microscopic chance of nuclear war erupting because of this, they did it anyways. They by passed international diplomacy and EXPLICITLY trespassed into North Korea. Bill Clinton should have left them there, but he needed some more camera time. If they are stupid enough to trespass into hostile territory, then they should face the consequences. I believe Al Gore had something to do with this since he is a "co-founder" of Current media. Clinton saved your butt? In depth reporting is fine. Risking the safety of South Korea and surrounding nations is not. Shame on those reporters and too bad they got off so easy.

    • 2 years ago
  • calm_incense
  • 2102512
    • 0
      2102512  
    • 2102512:

      Calm Incense you can disagree 100%, but it is because you know 0% of the situation. You are just another victim of this "feel good" story. Research how many died fighting in Korea in the 50's, and how volatile the situation is. Educate yourself. Quit being a mind less robot and eat the BS you are fed.

    • 2 years ago
  • calm_incense
    • 0
      calm_incense  
    • 2102512:

      Sorry, but you said absolutely nothing I didn't already know. Stop being so arrogant as to assume that anybody who doesn't see things your way is "ignorant".

      I'm surprised you haven't called me a Kool-Aid-drinking sheeple yet.

      What's taking you so long?

    • 2 years ago
  • 2102512
  • nkeg87
    • 0
      nkeg87  
    • 2102512:

      Oh I'm sorry. Were you there with them? Are you 100% sure they crossed the border? I do recall there being mixed stories about their whereabouts when they were arrested.

      Yes, its a volatile situation but I want to hear what THEY have to say.

    • 2 years ago
  • MoonLoon
  • lifestudentno83
  • metalcookiesxy70
    • 0
      metalcookiesxy70  

    • It seems new "trolls" have appeared along with this topic, so sad, and yet their comments has to only do with politics, they cannot evn focus on the positive things, just politics, they are even illogical about what they say....

    • 2 years ago
  • lucidstone
  • MoonLoon
    • 0
      MoonLoon  
    • metalcookiesxy70:

      Of course I am happy for their return. However, most of the Reuters article was commenting on the politics of the situation, not the humanitarian aspects. It is unlikely that they were released on humanitarian grounds, thus this is a political issue. North Korea got something out of this, you can bet on it.

    • 2 years ago
  • s0uthc0ast
  • calm_incense
  • MilchMann
    • 0
      MilchMann  
    • s0uthc0ast:

      More ironically though, s0uthc0ast here likes to remember things wrong and/or misquote them (guess that is not really a surprise). Pavlov's dogs salivated when the bell was rung... Clinton did not appear to be slobbering.

    • 2 years ago
  • nursediesel
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  

    • I wish people on either side of the political aisle wouldn't use this as a chance to gain political points by putting these ladies in the middle of it. For me this was an issue of human rights, not politics. Some Republicans are dissing this because it was Bill Clinton, a Democrat, and some Democrats are praising it because Bill Clinton is a Democrat. I really get tired of seeing everything in this country being broken down to a political denominator.

    • 2 years ago
  • amazonprincess
    • 0
      amazonprincess  

    • If this had happened under the Bush administration, Halliburton and Blackwater would be jumping up and down in joy: MONEY!

      Bush would have sent a team of losers from Blackwater to North Korea. Blackwater would then failed and created an international incident that may lead to more deaths!

      Even now, we're still cleaning up the mess created by the world's biggest moron: George W. Bush.

    • 2 years ago
  • lifestudentno83
    • 0
      lifestudentno83  

    • Thankfully, we have an administration that can use diplomacy... I wonder if this was 2007 if they would have been left imprisoned...

      Again that is not the case and most everyone on current is thankful they have been released. Welcome home Laura and Euna.

    • 2 years ago
  • keithponder
    • 0
      keithponder  

    • I'm breaking a promise made to myself to give myself a self imposed break from Current.TV just to say.......,

      WELCOME BACK HOME EUNA & LAURA !!!!

      AND THANK YOU BILL CLINTON & THE NORTH KOREAN DICTATOR.

      Say what you will about Dr.Kim, but he could have said no.

    • 2 years ago
  • UrbanGypsy
  • hitz227
  • genxmusix
  • juxzta1
    • 0
      juxzta1  

    • The lesson to be learned? DONT TEMPT FATE. If the world draws a line and says don't cross this line no matter what! DONT CROSS IT. These countries obviously do not play around and I don't think the president will be making regular trips to these places to rescue journalists or hikers the three dummies who went hiking right on that line near Iran and are now being held. Come on people there are so many more interesting places to spend time!

    • 2 years ago
  • SarahAna
  • thehud2
    • 0
      thehud2  

    • This is interesting because it demonstrate the power of influence and status. Just think, if some of that influence was concentrate on the current issues of the prison overcrowding here within the states. There are many who would like to receive this type of attention, On one hand it illustrates the laws are not for everybody, but they are picked for the choosen. If this can be done outside our country why haven't the prison here been given this type of attention. Crimes are crimes, the journalist were sorry, I sure their are many in prison are sorry, yet it has no bearing on our political figures.

    • 2 years ago
  • coopersampson
    • 0
      coopersampson  

    • What a complete and total double standard...if these would have been military or CIA that were caught behind the N. Korea border...people would be screaming about how the USA invades the soverignty of another nation....but because they are a couple of journalists its ok ???? What a load of crap...and Bill Clinton is no hero...he had an opportunity to be in the limelight for a brief and shinning moment and he took it...Hey Al...nice coverage

    • 2 years ago
  • davidnetk
  • MoonLoon
  • MilchMann
    • 0
      MilchMann  
    • coopersampson:

      Seriously? I guess you have a right to your opinion... but wow? I kind of want to poke holes in your double standard statement, but I am going to refrain and state that I agree with david, and add that comments like that have no place here, NONE so what ever.

      So you coopersampson, and MoonLoon both need to take your inflammatory comments to a different thread on this topic if you wish to continue with them.

      here is a good one
      http://current.com/items/90611095_their-freedom-at-what-cost.htm
      started by one of your own kind.

      Thank you,
      -Milchmann

    • 2 years ago
  • MoonLoon
    • 0
      MoonLoon  
    • coopersampson:

      Thank goodness this is an open site where we are free to express our opinion. If Bill failed me, that is his problem and not mine. Milch, you need a reality check. I can express my opinions freely without reservations, this is America, after all!

    • 2 years ago
  • metalcookiesxy70
  • MoonLoon
    • 0
      MoonLoon  
    • coopersampson:

      Hey Metal, who declared you the gate keeper? But of course fear of the truth will drive people to the extremes. I will post here and where I want without cursing or denigrating my fellow citizens. I suggest the same standard should be adopted by all.

    • 2 years ago
  • lifestudentno83
  • escarondito
  • Hendrix_Is_God
    • 0
      Hendrix_Is_God  

    • I was watching the news yesterday and the mentioned that two reporters had been freed, when they showed their pictures I was SURE that I recognized them from Current.
      Lo and behold they were!

      Such good news.

    • 2 years ago
  • sk0j0
  • Nephwrack
  • TrevTar
  • GodsnLiberals
  • vinicius
  • musicismylife89
  • JohnA
  • locutus
  • JohnA
    • 0
      JohnA  

    • Barack was in over his head so once again Bill has to save the day. Just glad all the Obama worshipers can see what a real President can do.

    • 2 years ago
  • Cochiese
  • UrbanGypsy
    • 0
      UrbanGypsy  

    • What a great feeling they must have felt when they heard the news they were being released! I'm glad for them and I am thankful to Mr. Clinton.

      It is terrible what happens to people in those camps, I felt really bad that they were going to have to endure 12 years in there...

    • 2 years ago
  • Cochiese
  • Cochiese
  • jenuribe
  • mario_a
  • oreo4sho
  • Eleganza
    • 0
      Eleganza  

    • These young ladies parents must be besides themselves with relief...What I wouldn't give to have Bill Clinton back in office again, the man is just an incredibly gifted statesman.

    • 2 years ago
  • nsv
    • 0
      nsv  

    • As an international student (Mexico), I've always been stunned by these ladies' courage and bravery in their reports. Turkey, Brazil, Mexico, USA, everywhere.
      I cannot explain the amazing feeling of knowing that there are people like Clinton, Gore, Ling, and Lee in this country, moreover in this mad world, which desperately needs them and more people like them.
      Have a wonderful trip back home !!!
      You are an absolute inspiration !!!

    • 2 years ago
  • youarecorpulent
  • TheNome
  • s0uthc0ast
    • 0
      s0uthc0ast  

    • Interesting, Bill had to step in because the little lady couldn't get it done?
      Dodged a bullet with her not being elected in one respect, but the country took one square in the head with the load we got as an alternative.

    • 2 years ago
  • s0uthc0ast
  • bmackin
  • simall08
  • coopersampson
    • 0
      coopersampson  

    • what about all of the 100,000 of peole that are still intered in N. Korea ???? why do these gals get special treatment when they full admit that they snuck into the country in the first place ?? Why are we negotiating with a raving lunatic dictator ?

    • 2 years ago
  • coopersampson
  • jane44095
    • 0
      jane44095  

    • Al Gore would be my guess in alot of this,Bill Clinton may have done the good deed but i suspect Gore was behind it.just saying sure wish he would have won instead of bushleague.

    • 2 years ago
  • Jesse400
  • 1Eco_Media
  • shroomfairy
  • ArchitectMars
    • 0
      ArchitectMars  

    • today for currentTV and Current.com and many many of us that followed this ordeal... Bill Clinton just became a superman/iron man/spiderman ... all in one ... for a day =D

    • 2 years ago
  • CalgarC
    • 0
      CalgarC  

    • FUCK YEAH! clinton is awesome. i can now see y he was gettin some in the white house. i can't wait to hear from the vangaurd team :D

    • 2 years ago
  • rberghaus
  • austinmaxey
    • 0
      austinmaxey  

    • I am very relieved to hear that Laura Ling & Euna Lee are safe back in the United States with their families. I can only imagine what this whole ordeal must have been like for the two journalist. When I first herd about this story I was outraged that there was such little media attention and effort to have there sentences pardoned. I applaud Bill Clinton for his part in resolving this crisis.

    • 2 years ago
  • EmperorThan
  • ThoughtNu
    • 0
      ThoughtNu  

    • About time but I hesitate to make any full comment since EVERY story about these two has been pulled with no regard for the people that wish to share feelings concerning these journalists. I hope this is true and not another false post of progress.

      NSA Gen. Alexander and the Q unit have kept a tight lid on Current ... if I was your parent you would be grounded!

      It's a shameful thing to see right when ' Currents 4th birthday celebration is conducted to celebrate the 'new medium' ; knowing that the plight of these reporters was being overtly ignored...not that we noticed. Would have been nice to see that these two weren't the only reporters with fortitude ... at current but ... I am just glad to know they are on their way home

      Maybe 'we' should boycott Current for five months to show the same type of support they have shown publicly for their own?

    • 2 years ago
  • cassrobin
  • rdusenbery
  • momofkeoni
  • hardknockxpert
    • 0
      hardknockxpert  

    • Fantastic! This happened much more quickly than I expected, and I honestly didn't know what to expect since we're talking North Korea....hats off to Bill for a job well done!

    • 2 years ago
  • SUBurbanKICKback
  • Oldieman
  • brillfilms
    • 0
      brillfilms  

    • Michael Jackson wanted to help release Laura and Euna

      “maybe iif [ Kim Jong Il ] was a fan, I could help get those girls home.”

    • 2 years ago
  • matisyahu
  • 1Eco_Media
    • 0
      1Eco_Media  

    • this site has pulled so many of my comments on Laura, I never know if they will post anything are not.

      If any friend of mine gets held captive I am not going to keep my mouth shut while it goes on.

      That tactic is fear based. Better in my view to rally everyone around friends and what they were attempting to do. Show the very real fact that N.K. is selling women into China and all other points east.

      Expose the lie. My guess is that is what Laura would have wanted. Maybe I am wrong, but that is what I would want anyone to do that claimed to be my friend.

      In fact I would say it is the story that matters, not me.

      Laura and Lee are not the first and they will not be the last to be held. In fact, many have been killed attempting to get at the truth.

      Are we to live in fear and hide out all our lives or face evil actions and the people, govs, org, cos, who do them.

      I say not only do we face them but we back up our friends whenever they are brave enough to tell the hidden truth and make sure their story is told so very loud others will think twice before holding, or killing the next friend.

      but hey, what the hell do I know. i am not a lawyer, or gov. type, or some big shot company man, who thinks they know what's best.

      to that I say. B.S.

      Welcome home. So very sorry it took so damn long.

      Why in the hell didn't Bill go over sooner?

      They sure seem to love him there. You can bet there is far more to this story and my guess is there is at least one reporter at current who will find and report the truth.

      That reporter is Laura.

    • 2 years ago
  • Nephwrack
  • vistapoint
  • shep1973
    • 0
      shep1973  

    • great news, so glad to hear this is having a positive ending.

      and to think so many people didnt even know what was going on, and when they were told, they didnt care or understand the magnitude.. sometimes people's apathy infuriates me. people need to realize that real life is beyond their personal space..this is huge.

    • 2 years ago
  • Michizzle
  • jam05
    • 0
      jam05  

    • thank goodness...this is amazing news! I hope someone gets their stories in an interview...someone from current!

    • 2 years ago
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