8 Asians

13 Comments to “Journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee pardoned and released by North Korea”

• Asianmommy wrote:

  That's awesome–really great news.

  Posted on 04-Aug-09 at 1:44 pm | Permalink

• BigBrotherSpeaks wrote:

  Extraordinary Very extraordinary. Bravo Bill Clinton, bravo.

  However, I want to know why Al Gore was so silent during this whole time. Why didn't he speak up or speak out? And Oprah Winfrey too for that matter, and any of the View folks. The only thing I can think of is that the State Department asked them to keep quiet about it.

  Other unanswered questions:

  What happened to the cameraman and guide who “escaped”? One would think they has a pretty good idea of what happened.

  In any event, the two girls should consider themselves VERY LUCKY to be released, especially in light of the fact that they were in fact, violating NK. I hope they learned their lesson and are remorseful for all the trouble they caused our country due to their irresponsible and reckless behavior. This could have been a lot worse.

  Posted on 04-Aug-09 at 10:32 pm | Permalink

• LindaChan wrote:

  Just wanted to clarify, BigBrother–The ladies of The View spoke out on this at least a half-dozen times. The situation hit home with them because Laura's sister, Lisa, used to be a cohost on the show and Barbara often says she considers Lisa part of The View family.

  Posted on 05-Aug-09 at 9:55 am | Permalink

• ErnieAtLYD wrote:

  I'm also going to venture a guess that Al Gore didn't speak up on this while the hostage situation was happening due to the fact that current.tv is the news station he started.

  There was a mention of this on a forum post of our social network as well:
  http://my.8asians.com/forum/topics/courage-and-...

  Posted on 05-Aug-09 at 10:28 am | Permalink

• Dan W wrote:

  This is very good news, (a little belated) and a good part for Clinton.

  I'm just wondering what type of deal they made. I'm so cynical in many areas but it's just a little hard to believe that this was due to Bill Clinton went there to show respect to Kim Jong Il and North Korea release the journalists to relfect it's peaceful and humaniatarian policy. There is going to be a lot of propoganda on both sides for sure. I mean, maybe it was partially that but there would have been other strings attached.

  Posted on 05-Aug-09 at 12:07 pm | Permalink

• BigBrotherSpeaks wrote:

  I looked at the View website and even did a search but not a single mention. However, Oprah did have a special section dedicated to them, God bless her. Curiously, the front page of Current TV now conveniently is dedicated to them as well thought before today, there was not one single mention. The whole thing is just odd. I would guess a volunteer media black out on the issue to help the delicate and sensitive diplomatic negotiations going on behind the scenes but I am skeptical.

  Perhaps most disturbing is the lack of apology or remorse on the girls' part for all the trouble they have caused us and their dangerous irresponsible behavior. Hopefully they will call a press conference soon and explain what exactly went down. They owe us that much. Also, what happened to the producer and cameraman? There are a lot of questions that remain unanswered. These girls have some explaining to do.

  Posted on 05-Aug-09 at 4:48 pm | Permalink

• BigBrotherSpeaks wrote:

  I looked at the View website and even did a search but not a single mention. However, Oprah did have a special section dedicated to them, God bless her. Curiously, the front page of Current TV now conveniently is dedicated to them as well thought before today, there was not one single mention. The whole thing is just odd. I would guess a volunteer media black out on the issue to help the delicate and sensitive diplomatic negotiations going on behind the scenes but I am skeptical.

  Perhaps most disturbing is the lack of apology or remorse on the girls’ part for all the trouble they have caused us and their dangerous irresponsible behavior. Hopefully they will call a press conference soon and explain what exactly went down. They owe us that much. Also, what happened to the producer and cameraman? There are a lot of questions that remain unanswered. These girls have some explaining to do.

  Posted on 05-Aug-09 at 3:07 pm | Permalink

• Brian Jian wrote:

  Charming white man saves Asian damsels in distress from evil clutches of short eccentric Asian villian. Did Hollywood write this script??

  Posted on 05-Aug-09 at 8:22 pm | Permalink

• gracechu wrote:

  “irresponsible and reckless behavior” – WHAT?! the border between china and n. korea where they were at isn't clearly delineated. they could have been on the chinese side for all we know. north korea is a sneaky country who most likely captured the two to force an international showdown for political reasons – and they succeeded.

  the journalists were doing a brave service to the international community by doing research on refugees to china, something that needs to be heard. north korea is a dictatorship that squelches civil liberties and freedom of the press. any insight about the reclusive and closed-off country should be welcomed, and would ultimately aid the people in north korea, which, unless you have been hiding under a rock, are starving and oppressed.

  frankly your comment is off-putting and offensive.

  as far as i'm concerned, they don't need to show remorse, and the civilized people of the world should rally behind them and consider them heroes.

  Posted on 05-Aug-09 at 10:13 pm | Permalink

• BigBrotherSpeaks wrote:

  Calm down. According to the family, they were indeed on the North Korean side and apologized for it. And if you bothered to read my post instead of getting all emotional, you would see that I question what actually did occur, including the suspiciously missing accounts from the producer and cameraman. Also, if NK had indeed violated the border, then presumably China would be very happy with that and has remained rather quiet on the issue.

  Regardless of the girls intent, their behavior was indeed reckless and irresponsible. I agree the “story” is important sure, but the risk factor too high and unnecessarily exposed our country to high stakes diplomacy in an already tense atmosphere. Their actions put us at great risk and endangered many people as well as hurt our position in the current stand off. Their thoughtless deeds handed Kim Jong Il a bargaining chip. I certainly think an apology is warranted, the sooner the better. Or at the very least, a full accounting on what actually happened. The true heroes are the 30,000 US soldiers and their South Korean counterparts who ceaselessly and tirelessly without pomp and circumstance patrol the border to keep the free world safe from madmen like Kim. They above all else, deserve an explanation why their lives were needlessly put in danger by two reckless and irresponsible girls. Also the civil servants who worked behind the scenes to pull off this diplomatic miracle.

  Frankly, I find your post “off-putting” and “offensive”. I think you may be the one living under a rock.

  Posted on 05-Aug-09 at 10:42 pm | Permalink

• LindaChan wrote:

  Hi again. The View website does not include all its Hot Topics topics. I did a search for Henry Louis Gates and also came up empty. But being a loyal viewer, I know they talked about it on air for a week and a half. I'm kind of obsessed with the show (like you couldn't tell). No, they don't have a whole section for it like Oprah, but give credit where credit is due.

  Posted on 06-Aug-09 at 6:57 am | Permalink

• 8Asians.com » The Struggles of Euna Lee’s Family While she was Imprisoned in N. Korea wrote:

  [...] all rejoiced together when Euna Lee and Laura Ling were safely returned home. And I’m sure most of us wept and worried with their loved ones when we weren’t sure what would [...]

  Posted on 11-Aug-09 at 3:40 pm | Permalink

• 8Asians.com » Laura Ling & Euna Lee’s First Statement Posted at Current TV’s site wrote:

  [...] they speak. Ever since Ling & Lee were captured, indicted, and then pardoned & released by North Korea earlier this year, the world has wondered what really happened in the days leading [...]

  Posted on 01-Sep-09 at 9:59 pm | Permalink

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