ID :
52069
Tue, 03/24/2009 - 17:41
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/52069
The shortlink copeid
Int'l body calls on N.K. to free detained American journalists
SEOUL, March 24 (Yonhap) -- Reporters sans Frontiers (RSF), an international
organization of journalists, urged North Korea on Tuesday to release two U.S.
reporters in its custody and pressed China to take up the case.
"We want to launch a form of appeal for their unconditional and immediate
release. They were covering a very important issue, the issue of North Korean
refugees at the Chinese border," RSF spokesman Vincent Brossel said at a press
conference in Seoul. "There is no reason to put them in detention."
Diplomatic efforts by Washington were under way to gain the release of the two
female reporters apprehended near the North Korea-China border. The North's state
media confirmed over the weekend that they arrested the two on March 17 for
"intruding" into North Korean territory.
Laura Ling and Euna Lee were reporting for a San Francisco-based Internet news site.
The incident has added to deepening tensions on the Korean Peninsula as Pyongyang
is preparing to launch a rocket early next month in what neighboring nations view
as a cover for a ballistic missile test.
Brossel noted that the circumstances under which the reporters were taken into
custody were still unclear and demanded that both China and North Korea take
appropriate steps in disclosing information concerning the detainees.
The group defended the actions of the two reporters, even if they had crossed the
border, noting the North Korean government "is very rarely accepting of foreign
journalists."
"Journalism is without borders," Brossel said.
He also urged Beijing to launch an immediate investigation into the case if in
fact they were apprehended on the Chinese side of the border.
"(In that case,) its a kidnapping, its not an arrest. Its a new case of
kidnapping by the North Korean regime against civilians, and in this case,
journalists."
Some experts have predicted that North Korea, which does not have diplomatic
relations with the U.S., may use the case as a catalyst for high-level bilateral
dialogue with the Barack Obama administration.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
organization of journalists, urged North Korea on Tuesday to release two U.S.
reporters in its custody and pressed China to take up the case.
"We want to launch a form of appeal for their unconditional and immediate
release. They were covering a very important issue, the issue of North Korean
refugees at the Chinese border," RSF spokesman Vincent Brossel said at a press
conference in Seoul. "There is no reason to put them in detention."
Diplomatic efforts by Washington were under way to gain the release of the two
female reporters apprehended near the North Korea-China border. The North's state
media confirmed over the weekend that they arrested the two on March 17 for
"intruding" into North Korean territory.
Laura Ling and Euna Lee were reporting for a San Francisco-based Internet news site.
The incident has added to deepening tensions on the Korean Peninsula as Pyongyang
is preparing to launch a rocket early next month in what neighboring nations view
as a cover for a ballistic missile test.
Brossel noted that the circumstances under which the reporters were taken into
custody were still unclear and demanded that both China and North Korea take
appropriate steps in disclosing information concerning the detainees.
The group defended the actions of the two reporters, even if they had crossed the
border, noting the North Korean government "is very rarely accepting of foreign
journalists."
"Journalism is without borders," Brossel said.
He also urged Beijing to launch an immediate investigation into the case if in
fact they were apprehended on the Chinese side of the border.
"(In that case,) its a kidnapping, its not an arrest. Its a new case of
kidnapping by the North Korean regime against civilians, and in this case,
journalists."
Some experts have predicted that North Korea, which does not have diplomatic
relations with the U.S., may use the case as a catalyst for high-level bilateral
dialogue with the Barack Obama administration.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
