What are we going to do to save the journalists in North Korea?

On Wednesday in North Korea, Euna Lee and Laura Lynn were given a "special Pardon" by ruler Kim Young Il. The Pardon came in response to intensive talks with Former President Bill Clinton. At last, our people are coming home. As someone said recently, I'm proud to be an American where every life means so much.

On March 17 two American reporters, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, were captured near the border of North Korea and China while reporting on the traffiking of N. Korean women. It is unclear if they even crossed the border. They have been sentenced to 12 years "reform through labor" - that's hard labor. The U. S. has made noises about attempts to get them back through diplomatic means as it is obvious that N. Korea is using them as a bargaining chip against tough sanctions, but we have yet to take any affirmative steps to retrieve our people. With the nuclear threat looming, what do you think is going to happen to Ling and Lee? Will the U.S. send help?

These journalists were being thrown in President Obama's face as he was to begin talks with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak. It seemed clear what the message was - "I have your people, don't do anything to me." But what can Obama do? He cannot ignore the threat from North Korea. Is there some way to end this diplomatically? Could North Korea actually be using the women as an olive branch?

As of June 27th, the women are still being detained and it is feared that they will be transferred to one of the labor camps, notorious for their poor conditions and brutality. Both Lee and Ling have medical problems which will certainly complicate matters.

There seems to be a general concensus that prisoners are fed poorly and beaten regularly. Many die within the first two to three years of confinement. Returning detainees tell various stories of their imprisonments. One man, speaking little of his experience except to say that he was treated humanely was released after 90 days. He committed suicide 30 days later. There are even sadder stories of abuse within the camps. But there are also stories of relatively fair treatment. We can only hope and pray for the best for our two journalists.