CPJ Blog

Press Freedom News and Views

In North Korea, new negotiations for Lee, Ling

The Committee to Protect Journalists is encouraged by news reports that former U.S. President Bill Clinton traveled to North Korea to negotiate the release of two American television journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling. They were convicted on June 8 of entering North Korea illegally and planning "hostile acts" and were sentenced to 12 years' labor in a closed-door trial.

"This is welcome news and we are pleased to see movement in this case," said Bob Dietz, CPJ Asia program coordinator. "The fate of these two women should not be linked to broader issues on the Korean Peninsula and to see both sides make a move toward the release of these reporters will bring some relief to them, their families and friends."