.
June 17th, 2009
08:45 AM ET

Video: Families plead with North Korea
Filed under: 360° Interview • 360° Radar • 360º Follow • Human Rights • Lisa Ling • North Korea
soundoff (8 Responses)
  1. Spelunker

    Lynette Perry:
    Current TV's crew crossed the northern border of North Korea from China, not the 38th parallel with South Korea. That particular area (Tumen River) does not have a DMZ type border with barbed wire fences, frequent sentry surveillance, or other barriers on either side.

    Your question on whether we would still be hearing about this story if not for the fact that Lisa Ling's sister was involved has some merit, so what if it was executive producer Mitch Koss and video editor Euna Lee who were captured at the border and reporter Laura Ling was the lucky one who escaped? Can you imagine Lisa Ling going on CNN and apologizing for her sister not for crossing the border but because she's not allowed to talk to American media?

    June 17, 2009 at 12:08 pm |
  2. Spelunker

    John Sakura:
    I believe Lisa Ling's trip to North Korea was in the spring of 2006.
    I don't believe Laura's case was tangibly affected by her sister's National Geographic documentary, as there was sufficient evidence in Current TV's six confiscated videotapes to justify incarceration according to North Korea's laws.
    There are a number of things you won't hear from the media. It certainly does not help clarify what actually happened at the border area on March 17 when key eyewitness Mitch Koss is not allowed to talk. You won't even hear or see his name mentioned by CNN, despite the fact that his escape from capture by North Korean sentries has been reported by almost every single newspaper in America and around the world.

    June 17, 2009 at 11:57 am |
  3. Lynnette Perry

    It's a little difficult to just "trip" across the border into a communist country. We have soldiers from the USA there on the "Demilitarized zone " and I am sure there ae other border barriers in place.
    If this did not happen to be Lisa Ling's sister, would we be hearing of it? There is no doubt in mjy mind this crossing was intentional. And it probably was not an easy thing to pull off, so the choice seeems to have been made with intent.
    I doubt they did anything harmful/aggressive? However, it is illegal to cross ito this country without permission and they will now pay the price.
    Every time an American makes a poor choice, it does NOT mean it is up to us to get them out of the bad consequences that go along with thier choice.-They will not make this kind of choice again. It is sad, but they broke a law and they will pay for that.

    June 17, 2009 at 11:52 am |
  4. Martina Ilstad Germany

    I deeply sorry for the families of this two journalist.At least we dont know what happened their,but we have to get a humanright just only make contact to this woman.So if the North Korea goverment have a hart,pleace let the world know it.All i can do is,ask,pray ,hope, and dont forget this woman.

    June 17, 2009 at 11:52 am |
  5. Endi Wirawan

    look i'm just fourteen years old but i think that if laura ling and euna lee crossed the border and they confessed, that's that and it was their fault . the only thing we can do now is like what lisa ling said, hope that the north korean government show compassion and release them inspite of the tension on nuclear test that north korea has right now . laura ling and euna lee's heritage will be very important for north korea's political puposes; chinesse, korean and american . still my thoughts and prayers go out to them and their family and we'll just have to hope for the best .

    June 17, 2009 at 11:25 am |
  6. John Sakura

    I'm wondering if Lisa Ling's 2007 trip to North Korea with hidden cameras had an effect on the countrie's decision to incarcerate her sister?

    I have heard no mention of this from the media.

    June 17, 2009 at 10:55 am |
  7. Michelle D . Fonthill. Ont

    My thoughts and prayers go out to Lisa Ling and her family . North Korea has no compassion for any reason as to why they crossed into the country . The presdident needs to do more than talk and negoitate their release. They are pawns in this poltical game just let them go they are just journalists trying to do thier job.

    June 17, 2009 at 10:34 am |
  8. Cory

    My heart goes out to these families – While our government may not be able to do much about individual cases such as these – it is disturbing that we have been so passive with regards to North Korea's blatant disregard for the world's requests. We need to make a stand – I am not sure what that stand is, I am not the president, but we cannot simply "talk" we need to "walk the walk".

    June 17, 2009 at 9:56 am |

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