12 years hard labour for US journalists in North Korea
Two US journalists sentenced to 12 years hard labour after being convicted of entering North Korea illegally
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Monday, 08, Jun 2009 12:58
Two US journalists have been sentenced to 12 years hard labour after being convicted of entering North Korea illegally.
Euna Lee and Laura Ling have been in custody since March but the details of their arrest, conviction and sentencing are shrouded in secrecy.
It is unclear whether they were detained after straying into the reclusive Communist state during their report on the trafficking of women into China, or whether guards crossed the border to arrest them.
Their five-day trial was held behind closed doors and there is no prospect of an appeal.
"The trial confirmed the grave crime they committed against the Korean nation and their illegal border crossing as they had already been indicted, and sentenced each of them to 12 years of reform through labour," a statement on the official Korean Central News Agency said.
US secretary of state Hillary Clinton is now seeking the women's release on humanitarian guards.
Both work for Current TV, a Californian-based media venture from former US vice president Al Gore.
There are fears Ms Lee and Ms Ling are going to be used as bargaining chips in Pyongyang's growing dispute with Washington and South Korea.