This is so very tragic I can not imagine what the families must be feeling.  Former View co-host, Lisa Ling’s sister Laura and her friend Euna Lee have been sentenced in North Korea’s highest court for 12 years of hard labour (prison camp) for “for the grave crime they committed against the Korean nation and their illegal border crossing.”

They were in China for former Vice President Al Gore‘s Current TV, where they were covering international trafficking of women and it is believed they were abducted and taken over the border.

The trial has been shrouded in secrecy and it is unknown (other than crossing the border) why these women were arrested March 17.

The Ling and Lee families had quietly been working to release the two women and decided to reach out to the public on May 31.  A joint statement from the families pleading for the:

“expeditious release of Laura and Euna on humanitarian grounds,” stressing, “Euna Lee is the mother of a 4-year old daughter. And Laura was being treated for an ulcer prior to her departure, and in our limited communication with her we fear it has become more serious since her detainment and requires immediate medical attention.” 

“We aren’t certain of the details of what happened on March 17, but we can say with absolute certainty that when the girls left U.S. soil, they never intended to set foot onto North Korean territory. If at any point a transgression occurred, we sincerely apologize on their behalf.”

I think if anyone had a ‘worst nightmare’ it would be something along these lines.   The families must be beside themselves with all of this.   Analysts are saying this could be used as a bargaining chip with tensions mounting from ongoing testing of nuclear missiles.  I sincerely hope the U.S. government can step in and do whatever they can to secure the release of these two women.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the women and the families.

source & source