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Royce Condemns North Korean Sentencing of American Journalists
Royce: "action cannot stand;" Reiterates call for release
Washington,
Jun 8, 2009 -
Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, released the following statement after learning of a guilty verdict and sentencing to 12 years hard labor in the case of Laura Ling and Euna Lee, two American journalists held in North Korea since March:
“One of President Obama's highest priorities must be to protect American citizens. President Obama himself must make it clear that this action cannot stand. Period. Now is the time for urgent action.
“These court proceedings were a cruel joke – nothing more than a kangaroo court. I know of no 'justice' system in North Korea. The two should be immediately released.
“As if there were any doubts, the North Korean regime has shown its true colors – a hostile regime bent on destroying the lives of its own citizens and others.
"These two wouldn't have been near North Korea were it not for the barbaric cruelty of its regime. Ling and Lee were convicted of so-called "grave crimes." The regime commits real grave crimes against millions of North Koreans everyday.
In April, Rep. Royce raised the case of the two journalists in a face-to-face conversation with Secretary of State Clinton. Royce handed the Secretary a personal letter, and pressed for urgent action.
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