FREE THE JOURNALISTS! North Korea is Taunting Obama - How will he respond?

When the two journalists were first kidnapped, it was reported that they were in Chinese Territory at the time. The Official China News Agency (Government) confirms the first news report.

This is a deliberate act by North Korea to taunt and intimidate Obama. Hey Barry! FREE THE JOURNALISTS!
Rees

FM: Detained US journalists 'not in Chinese territory'

from The China Daily
March 24, 2009

BEIJING - China said Tuesday that two Americans detained by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) were not "within the territory of China."

A report by the DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency said that the country detained two American women as they were "illegally intruding into the territory of the DPRK by crossing the DPRK-China border."

When asked to comment on the incident at a regular press briefing, Qin Gang said the two were not in Chinese territory and told reporters to ask for more information directly from relevant countries.

Pyongyang said the authorities were "investigating the case," while the United States was reported to have requested the DPRK to release the two journalists as soon as possible.

U.S. State Department spokesman Robert A. Wood said the country was in contact with the DPRK through the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang to ascertain the truth.
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North Korea Says It Detained Two Americans for Illegal Entry

The first news I read about this situation indicated that the two reporters were standing in Chinese territory taking pictures of North Korea. That early article indicated that North Korean soldiers crossed over into Chinese territory to abduct these two reporters. If that is true, Obama can add another diplomatic mess to his plate.

The bottom line is that North Korea is holding two American Reporters. What is he going to do about it?
Rees

from Bloomberg.com
By Bomi Lim
blim30@bloomberg.net
March 21

(Bloomberg)-- North Korea said it detained two Americans this week for “illegally intruding” into its territory from China, confirming an earlier statement by the U.S. State Department.
The two Americans were taken on March 17, the communist country’s official Korean Central News Agency reported today. “A competent organ is now investigating the case,” it said, without naming the detainees or providing further details.

Two female journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, were on assignment with San Francisco-based Current TV when they were taken into custody close to the border region, the Los Angeles Times reported. State Department spokesman Robert Wood said March 21 two U.S. citizens had been held by North Korean authorities.

The State Department is seeking information from “a number of parties” and has asked the Swedish embassy to discuss the case with the North Koreans, Wood said. The U.S. and North Korea don’t have full diplomatic relations.
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