Free Euna Lee and Laura Ling

There is a Twitter page @LiberateLaura that was started as a result of a 4/26 tweet from @NYTimesKristof. If you're using the service, please consider following for updates, related stories, etc.

Thank you for writing about this, Jami. I have been aware of this story for at least a month and have been trying to publicize it via twitter and Facebook. Let's support Laura and Euna and bring them home!

What can the public do to help these women?

It was mentioned on "the View" that it is 9 weeks that these women are being held–I sincerly hope soon they will be released. I feel for all their families.

In this case, the reason why some stories take off and others do not is the nature of the situation. Relations with North Korea is far more unpredictable than with other countries with which the U.S. does not have diplomatic relations. The families of the detained journalists were not speaking. The company that employed them was not speaking. The State Department, until the recent announcement of the trial date, was not speaking. Nothing but silence. Hence, the only generators of news were individuals who organized vigils. That's why.

What about freeing Euna Lee and Laura Ling? Why did the media only focus on Roxana Saberi? Well, now that Roxana Saberi is free, will the media cover the story about Euna Lee and Laura Ling, who are Americans like Roxana Saberi? Why doesn't Anderson Cooper mention this on his program? They need help and support from the American people to expedite their release. What about Hilary Clinton, why doesn't she do something? Will they just be forgotten?

Thank you for this!! I have been searching via net TV for info on these two brave journalists and no one is talking about it!!! Please bring us all the info you can find about freeing these two brave women.

I am sorry that these women were arrested and jailed. But stay home where it is safe, reporting a story is not honorable in spite of what people may believe. Being a soldier is an honorable job but not a media job. Putting your life on the line for a story is just saying your life is not worth much. REporters stay home, soldiers coming home do a much better job of reporting the real truth.

This is the standard operating procedure for most dictatorships and religious governments. You don't like someone or the story they are trying to tell, just label them spies, round 'em up, jail 'em, and refuse to allow anyone to talk to 'em. Until such time as this government or the UN inforce sanctions you can expect this kinda crap to continue.
To hell with the bargaining table those days are long gone. Had Truman listened to MacArthur when he wanted to use atomic weapons on the border with China. This crap would not be happening now. Sure there would have been more radiation in the atmosphere, but what's a little more radiation, your not going to live forever. But then Russia would have become nervous and joined China. All I can say is get those women out, now. Let's see some action.

During a ceremony at Barnard College Hillary said that an online campaign might help Laura Ling and Euna.

"We have two young women journalists right now imprisoned in North Korea and you can get busy on the Internet and let the North Koreans know that we find that absolutely unacceptable."

Hillary Clinton's comments at Barnard do represent a shift that I believe started when North Korea announced a trial date for June 4. There is some indication that a process, however flawed, could provide some way for the womens' release.
As for the public, there are vigils being planned in SF, Portland, N.Y., Birmingham, L.A., Washington D.C. (they need help), and other cities.
See the Facebook group called : "Detained In North Korea : Journalist Laura Ling and Euna Lee, please help."
[Yes, it's that long] There's a phone number for the guy who started the page if people want to assist in a public way, through organizing a vigil in their own city June 3, the day before the trial starts.

To Miriam, they are not fighting. They were reporting a plight of a group of people and in doing so, hoped they would raise awareness/aid.

Read before you post.

I sincerely hope that they are not harmed, and come home in tact.

It is an outrage that these two women are not getting the proper attention by our government, and furthermore, by the media that was so insistant in keeping Saberi in the public's attention.
Regardless of our relationship with the government and actually because of it, which is sinply a hostage situation.
We need to keep talking about this, and somebody has to find a way to get Hillary Clinton's and the Obama administration's attention on this matter.
Not to make matters worse, but I wonder if these were two known reporters that also happened to be caucasian males, would our government's reaction, and actions, have been different?
In my opinion, absolutely !

These are countries where freedom of speech is not allowed. American's are unwelcome because of this. We rely on the media to recognize these issues and make them known to the public. This is the first I've heard of this. Keep up the dialogue. Reporting is not spying. This is a travesty of injustice.

"a travesty of injustice"

Wow! English is a second language for so many Americans.

Just for the record:

A travesty is a terriible thing happening to something. So....a travesty of injustice would be......JUSTICE.

I used to be a fan of current tv but there silence is troublesome as their reporters usually speak out on this type of issue when the major channels won't. I guess because one of there own is invoved they are'nt so brave. A definite bummer!

Considering the turmoil, confusion, and terrorism occurring throughout the world, maybe it is time our citizens/reporters concentrate on U.S. issues and allow these controversial countries to fend for themselves.
It is obvious some countries do not want our aid, and we are running out of generosity! (and patience!)
Once these ladies are released by North Korea to return home, I hope and pray they are physically and emotionally stable.

I feel so sorry for these two women, because the U.S. and it's politicians should have been on top of this a long time ago. I feel really disgusted, ashamed and embarressed that our politicians, like Obama, McCain, Hillary and others have waited so long to act on this matter. I just hope that someone gets the guts to do something, anything, about this, for these women, before it's too late to really help them. As far North Korea claiming that they are spies and so-called “hostile acts”, I don't believe a word of it for a second! From what I have seen from North Korea and Kim Jong Il in the past, I would not be surprised at all if they were really the ones, who crossed the border illegally and harassed these poor women.

As a former journalist, I know that reporters are a close-knit group who protect their own. Lisa Ling said today that the families wanted to try diplomatic avenues. She is a very well-respected journalist, and I think she may have asked the media to hold off on stories about these two brave women while she worked behind the scenes to free them. Any quality journalist would have respected her wishes. Unfortunately, these women are now caught up in a U.S.-North Korea tug-of-war. My prayers are with them and their families. No, they are not soldiers, but good journalists report about horrendous conditions around the world so that others can be enlightened. A country without a free press is a a free country at all. You should be thankful that our journalists are putting their lives on the line for us every day. My computer is down, and I'm typing this on my Kindle, so please excuse typos. It's like setting type by hand.

My heart goes out to Euna, Laura and their families. These are amazing women who are not spies, just journalists who were NOT commiting "hostile acts" as the North Korean claims. This is unacceptable and I pray we as a country unite to speak out against this. The media needs to do more, it's sad that we have not seen anything about these two women on the news.

can free laura and Luna update us ? Their trial was supposed to have been held by now 8PM EST US.

I for one believe these two to be guilty of trespassing. Since they are both asian women, it doesn't make sense that the NK soldiers would be able to single them out as Americans out of a crowd of other asian people. If that were the case, many more instances of NK soldiers abducting chinese citizens would be seen, but this is not so. What probably happened was they trespassed into NK territory to enhance their story, then got caught in the middle of it. Also, I'm surprised that some of the posters believe we are "entitled" to hear about what goes on in NK or within the NK-chinese border. Who exactly gave you this entitlement? The US government?
Also, how is it "honorable" that reporters trespass to sell their story. Doesn't that sound like the paparrazzi? Don't they have any common sense? Regardless, they are stuck now in the NK prisons and the old adage always holds true – play with fire and you will get burned.

"What can the public do to help these women?"

N. Korea does not care the public opinions in the US. At least it seems to be that way due to decades of embargo and isolation. However, the only regime that finances Kim Il-Sung and his henchmen, China, has a lot of stake in the public opinions in the US. Now you know what to do to help, right?

The bigger problem is freeing North Korean labor camp victims and North Korean people in general who are caged inside a country run by a dimented and evil PSYCHOPATH.

North Korean people who are starving and who enjoy NO freedoms... they are the true sufferers, with NO HOPE in sight. Let us hope the two Americans at least can make it out sooner than later from such a living hell.

For some real justice, send them to Guantanamo.

I bet they regret not going to Cancun.

I"M sure the husbands will wait 12 years for the wives to return. And the little girl wont have mental issues as she grows up .

hey man

exellent post i love it... check my url you might like it

Now they are freed. Good. Next time, try entering other country with visa...

she needs to be set free thats it ! total nonsense , our government needs to do the right thing and get her back , i wish when she gets back she would contact me . i think we should start a huge revolutuion to get her released put relentless pressure on our weak government to get her out!!!