North Korea, Behind the Curtain

“The daring escape of New York Times journalist David Rhode from his Taliban captors, following on Iran’s sudden release of freelance journalist Roxana Saberi a month ago, draws attention to the plight of two American journalists still incarcerated in a foreign land -- Laura Ling and Euna Lee, of Current TV, who have begun 12-year sentences for illegal entry into North Korea and for committing ‘grave crimes’ against the Korean people,” says John Delury, Associate Director of Asia Society’s Center on U.S.-China Relations.

“It is unlikely that the North Korean government has made a ‘strategic decision’ to keep the two young women for the full term of their sentence. But it is probable that the DPRK expects a public gesture on the part of the United States government to formally appeal for their release (particularly considering the videotaped evidence, shot by the journalists themselves, of unauthorized entry). And it would not be surprising if more pragmatic, less hostile elements in Pyongyang even harbor hopes that arranging for the reporters’ release could be the first warm blast of a wider thaw in US-DPRK relations.”

John is in New York.  Please contact Asia Society Press Officer Stephanie Hoo to arrange an interview or media appearance. [email protected] 212-327-9295