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North Korea to indict and try captured US journalists

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] North Korean state media outlet Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Tuesday that indictments are being prepared against two American journalists detained earlier this month while allegedly attempting to enter the country illegally from China. Laura Ling and Euna Lee were reporting on North Korean refugees in China for Current TV when they allegedly crossed the border two weeks ago. An investigation by North Korean officials allegedly concluded that the journalists had entered the country illegally and that there was enough evidence to charge them. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has reportedly been involved in talks regarding the reporters. The incident comes at a sensitive time for international relations with North Korea, as the nation prepares for an imminent test missile launch which has heightened an already-tense relationship with the international community. North Korea has been accused of using the captured journalists as pawns in policy disputes with the US. The North Korean regime has been the subject of considerable international pressure over its refusal to fully disclose its past nuclear activity. The US removed North Korea from the State Department's list of terror sponsors in October after former president George W. Bush agreed to the step following the communist state's handover of a report on its nuclear program to China, one of the countries participating in the so-called Six Party Talks on the North Korean program. In February 2007, North Korea agreed to end its nuclear weapons program, shut down and seal any reactors, and completely declare the extent of its nuclear activities in exchange for 50,000 tons of heavy fuel. North Korea has ranked among the countries with the least protection for press freedoms.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on March 31, 2009 (boomark / email).