North Korea’s highest court sentenced American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee today to 12 years in a labor camp for illegal entry into the country and an unspecified “grave crime.” Seoul officials said the decision is final, as the top North Korean court does not allow appeals. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called for the country to release Ling and Lee, and word is that despite not having formal diplomatic relations with North Korea, the U.S. will send someone like Al Gore (who owns Current, where the women work) or New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson on a mission to get the journalists released. All we can think about is Lee’s four-year-old daughter who, at this point, still thinks her mommy is away for work. [CNN, Korea Times, Liberate Laura & Euna Now]
