July 11, 2009
Posted: July 11th, 2009 01:38 PM ET
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gives a news briefing Friday at the State Department.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gives a news briefing Friday at the State Department.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The United States has dropped its request that two American journalists imprisoned in North Korea be released on humanitarian grounds, and is seeking amnesty instead, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.

A plea for amnesty implies forgiveness for some offense.

Previously, Clinton said the United States was seeking the immediate release of the women - Laura Ling and Euna Lee - on humanitarian grounds.

The women were sentenced in June to 12 years in prison on charges of entering the country illegally to conduct a smear campaign.

Laura Ling's sister, Lisa Ling, told CNN Friday night that she feels the change in approach is significant, and could aid negotiations for the women's freedom. Lisa Ling is a CNN contributor.

"The two journalists and their families have expressed great remorse for this incident, and I think everyone is very sorry that it happened," Clinton told a State Department briefing Friday.

Full story

Filed under: Hillary Clinton • North Korea


stormerF   July 11th, 2009 4:57 pm ET

We could take a lesson from North Korea,If you enter the country Illegally you get 12 years in a work camp,what a great idea. What the hell were those two women thinking anyway? maybe they were drinking Koolaid and lost their way?..Maybe they will get out in 4 or 5 years,and I'll bet they stay the hell away fro North Korea.....How is the Secretary of State going to defend someone who crosses the border illegally and gets caught?...

Leslie   July 11th, 2009 4:53 pm ET

I think Hillary Clinton have forgotten something very important, human rights is plain ideology according to her President and she stand beside him saying it's not a priority for this current administration. You're flipflopping like a fish Hillary. I used to support you, not anymore. Just be happy Nokor will release those two women sent by Al Gore or else NOKOR will change its mind.

TW Harris   July 11th, 2009 4:49 pm ET

Oh, I see, we now say they were guilty and shame on us. Wow!! I miss having some grit in the White House.

No Hillary = No Obama   July 11th, 2009 4:48 pm ET

I have mixed feelings on this one. These two now admit they entered the country by choice, not by accident. They took a gamble and lost and now they want this country to bail them out. Grow up. North Korea is not a catch and release country -

dreamer   July 11th, 2009 4:29 pm ET

What about china?it's their neck of the woods.o wait nm they do the same thing and they are free trade partners /ponder.

Amnesty????   July 11th, 2009 4:19 pm ET

Is that admitting that they were guilty of espionage??? Guess so.

Willy Brown   July 11th, 2009 4:15 pm ET

USA will swap Hillary for the 2 women.

Carol, California   July 11th, 2009 4:06 pm ET

Why should Clinton have to waste her time with this?
These two stupid women crossed the border illegally. They were trying to make a name for themselves, as journalists, by breaking some story.

Now we're hearing all this moaning about "one of them has an illness" – "one of them has a child". TOO BAD. They had the illness and the child before they left. They shouldn't have done something so stupid then expect the world to turn on end to try to rescue them.

I say leave them there.

B.H.   July 11th, 2009 4:05 pm ET

Good luck Hillary......

rachel   July 11th, 2009 3:50 pm ET

wonder what al gore had them doing. Hope your better Hillary can't wait to see YOU back overseas next week. As Colin Powel said we need you.

Gary   July 11th, 2009 3:40 pm ET

Why do we look so weak dealing with North Korea. This is effectively kidnapping.

General Tso Chicken   July 11th, 2009 3:39 pm ET

No! We should say if you dont release them we will turn your country into a parking lot and we will accept the colateral damage.

Happy Lady   July 11th, 2009 3:38 pm ET

Pray for them and for their release.

Jenn, Philadelphia   July 11th, 2009 3:22 pm ET

I certainly hope this gets those women home. Having said that, once they get here, the US government should revoke their passports and make them reimburse the government for any money expended in getting their release. They violated the border of North Korea and put our government in the position of changing our actions in fear of North Korea doing something to them in retaliation. We are trying to stop that country from obtaining and using nuclear weapons against us and what these women did was completely irresponsible and damaging to diplomacy.

turn Texas blue   July 11th, 2009 3:01 pm ET

They might just have been spies.We will never know.We cant even get the crooks and spies that are republicans.

Sick -n- Tired   July 11th, 2009 3:00 pm ET

All I can say about North Korea is "bombs away"! Like the old saying goes "you mess with the bull you'll get the horns" and not in a good way!

Carlos   July 11th, 2009 2:58 pm ET

Maybe next we can say "pretty please."

why   July 11th, 2009 2:43 pm ET

would North Korea listen to

the US which has been the worst violator of international laws and rules and

release illegal tresspassers from the aggressive enemy country?

reality is always stranger than fiction.

Sorensen   July 11th, 2009 2:30 pm ET

It should make all americans happy and proud to see this highly
intelligent and extremely smart woman discharge the duties of her
high office.
Obama made a very intelligent choice.

GI Joe   July 11th, 2009 2:27 pm ET

WOW – she's aged 10 years in 6 months. Maybe in over her head like Palin.

annie for Palin   July 11th, 2009 2:20 pm ET

Why is obama sweeping Hillary under the rug?

European-American   July 11th, 2009 2:19 pm ET

I'm so glad we cleared up that whole "appeasement" issue during the campaign. Or I would not know what to make of our current international policy. At least I know it's not appeasement. LOL

European-American   July 11th, 2009 2:15 pm ET

OMG. Are we ging to have to apologize to everyone now/ How weak is this administration? What did these two journalist do other than be journalists? I hope all you reporters who get all warm and tingly up and down your leg watch what is going on and put yourself in these two American journalists position. I guess America doesn't defend other country's who believe in freedom, why should we defend our own press?

NYC REPUB   July 11th, 2009 2:12 pm ET

I hope things work out w/ this.......Those two women need to come home.

Ray   July 11th, 2009 2:05 pm ET

Let them rot. They broke the law in North Korea and they should pay for it.

While they serve their time, our State Department should be getting more important work done. Like the issues with China, Honduras, Russia, etc.

tpbco   July 11th, 2009 1:48 pm ET

This administration never met an issue it wouldn't apologize for. Where's Al "Carbon Credits" Gore been HIDING. Aren't these HIS employees. Perhaps he still trying to get that stain out of his blue dress....

Comments have been closed for this article

subscribe RSS Icon
About The Ticker

The latest political news from CNN's Best Political Team, with campaign coverage, 24-7. Sign up for our twice daily Ticker emails. Got a news tip or feedback? For complete political coverage, bookmark CNNPolitics.com.

CNN=Politics Screensaver

CNN=Politics ScreensaverTap into the power of The Situation Room. Download this powerful new tool that keeps you posted on the latest political news from the campaign trail.
Download (4.1 MB, PC only)

twitter
Categories
Powered by WordPress.com VIP