Journalists Arrested by North Korea

ZHANG:
Today's top story... two American journalists have been detained by North Korean security officials while filming near the border town of Dandong.

Residents on the Chinese side of the border are concerned about the journalists well-being.

STORY:
Dandong is a border town in China's northeastern Liaoning Province.

A diplomatic source says the reporters were on the frozen Tumen River further north in Jilin Province.

The media quoted a South Korean government official as saying the North Korean guards had crossed the border into Chinese territory to make the arrests.

But the diplomatic source said it is not clear which side of the border they were on at the time.

[Qiao Yingli, Local Resident]:
We don't know much about what happened during this incident. The main thing is that we do not know why they were detained. Anyway, detaining journalists is not the right thing to do.

[Huang Gang, Local Resident]:
"I think it is a wrong thing for them to do to the U.S. and China. If they (North Korea) had acted like this in our territory, there is a kind of disrespect to us."

A media source says the two women were working for Current TV, a U.S.-based online news company.

In Washington, a State Department official says the United States contacted North Korean authorities.

The arrests come at a time of mounting tension on the Korean peninsula.

But still, residents hope the matter will be resolved peacefully.

[Wang Weijun, Local Resident]:
"I hope we have a good neighbor. We better not have another Korean war, that would be a disaster and we will suffer. It is best that they resolve this problem peacefully."

We will continue to monitor this story and will bring you the latest news when it becomes available.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Ntd
• NTDTV
• news
• American
• Journalists
• Arrested
• North
• Korea
• Dandong
• Liaoning
• Province
• Tumen
• River
• media
• Chinese
• territory

[5yearplan1]

BigBillClinton

I agree. It is time for America to mind it's own business. We need to be focused on our economy and ending the war in the middle east. We need to bring our men and women home.

[deadcell1]

If US troops enter N.Korea to rescue this girls their will be a war.. and I will be damn if I and my men get killed just to rescue to ladies who broke the law.. if they were any other american the US would turn their head and say "Fuck em".

[qazwsxedcrfvg123]

@SaveaChicken thanks

[1412Bunny]

@SaveaChicken - ok, thanks :)

[SaveaChicken]

@qazwsxedcrfvg123

Ling was pardoned along with Euna Lee, and they have both returned to the United States following an unannounced visit to North Korea by former US President Bill Clinton on August 4, 2009.

[SaveaChicken]

@1412Bunny Yes. Main article: 2009 imprisonment of American journalists by North Korea

In the last week of March, 2009, North Korea announced that two American journalists were detained and would be indicted and tried for illegally entering the country. On May 3, 2009, it was officially announced that Ling and fellow journalist Euna Lee were the journalists that had been detained, after they attempted to film refugees along the border with China.

[chikungmasterkiller]

@samsaras north korea has the best government system in the world. everyone is employed. ther is no homeless. the government feeds and protects the people. its a very achieved nation. china is capitalist. so for every rich person you see with 20 cars ther thers 15,000 people who are unemployed or in some economic trouble or perhaps hungry.

[MaxamillianArturo]

What a bunch of dumb fucks. Can't stand these ditzy journalists...if you'd stay your ass home there wouldn't be a problem.

[1412Bunny]

@Tanakun09 - If North Korea shoots a nuke at China then of course China isn't going to protect North Korea. But I doubt North Korea would dare to fire a nuke at China.

[1412Bunny]

Is this about the kidnapping of Laura Ling and Euna Lee? o.o

[qazwsxedcrfvg123]

So what happed then? It is already almost 2 years old news. Can some one send a link to an updated status? Or was it simply 'forgotten"?

[samsaras]

This is crazy! The Chinese people are enjoying life, wearing nice clothes and speaking freely on one side of the Tumen river while the North Koreans are essentially waiting for death to swallow them up on the other side, for death is more desirable to them than prolonged suffering.