N.Korea says US reporters 'admit to smear campaign'

AFP ^ | 06/16/09 | Simon Martin

[TigerLikesRooster]

N.Korea says US reporters 'admit to smear campaign'

by Simon Martin Tue Jun 16, 10:44 am ET

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) – North Korea said Tuesday that two female US journalists whom it jailed last week for 12 years had admitted a politically motivated smear campaign against the communist state.

Official media, giving its first details of their alleged crimes, said they crossed the border illegally "for the purpose of making animation files to be used for an anti-DPRK (North Korea) smear campaign over its human rights issue."

A Pyongyang court on June 8 sentenced Laura Ling, 32, and Euna Lee, 36, to 12 years of "reform through labour" for the illegal border crossing and an unspecified "grave crime."

Border guards detained them on March 17 along the frontier with China while they were researching a story about the plight of refugees fleeing the hardline communist North.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Perhaps two women were carrying an expensive brand of Champagne to Kim Jong-il from Al Gore, which Kim deemed it to be a supermarket junk and arrest them.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[FreedomFerret]

I’m sure that whatever was “admitted”, was after sleep deprivation, endless stress positions, in your face intimidation, and threats against family.

[4rcane]

well, its probably true, but thats no crime to be locked up for 12 years

[MuttTheHoople]

I’m sure that whatever was “admitted”, was after sleep deprivation, endless stress positions, in your face intimidation, and threats against family.

More like beatings and electrodes to various body parts.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Telling the truth about North Korea can’t help but be a smear campaign, there isn’t anything good to say!

[jmaroneps37]

This is show biz. It has been since the beginning. These two algore dopes got caught and the NKs saw a chance to come off like actual human beings so they tried them convicted them and sentenced them to 12 years. What purpose other than to set up a “humanitarian release” could the “confessions” have? These women will be out in a few weeks. They will then run around telling talk show viewers how nice the NKs are.

[CharlesWayneCT]

They probably didn’t admit anything. However, their case is not helped by the fact that many reporters in the US are guilty of exactly what they are charged with.

[Blogger]

Has Bambi ever commented?

[usmcobra]

I doubt they will be realised in a couple weeks or a couple of months, they will be released when North Korea can no longer milk them for publicity, and then they will have tell all filled with the nightmares of North Korea, torture, beatings and rape.

[wtc911]

Ling and Lee will continue to be a non-story in the US media for the simple fact that TOTUS will do nothing and they (the media) will not cover any weakness from the WH.

Unless Gore ponies up a few million bucks these women are screwed. They are pawns in a game that TOTUS doesn't know how to play.

[Jack Hammer]

I’m sure that whatever was “admitted”, was after sleep deprivation, endless stress positions, in your face intimidation, and threats against family.

Only if the North Koreans were being uncharacteristically gentle. Electrodes, beatings, burnings, and drugs are at least as likely. Not to mention “unwanted attentions of an intimate nature.”

[SevenofNine]

Any word if Chia pet going propose marriage to both of them

It be like North Korea Bacholor LOL!

[ConservativeMan55]

bttt