Trial of two U.S. journalists may still be under way in N. Korea: source

SEOUL, June 7 (Yonhap) -- The trial of two U.S. journalists, which opened in
North Korea four days ago on charges of illegal entry and hostile acts, appears
to be still going on, a South Korean source said Sunday.

Korean-American Euna Lee and Chinese-American Laura Ling, both from Current TV, a
San Francisco-based Internet outlet co-founded by former U.S. Vice President Al
Gore, were detained near the North Korean border with China on March 17 while
working on a story about North Korean defectors.
In an unusual move, North Korea announced a June 4 trial date and time for the
Americans but has yet to release the verdict. According to Seoul officials, a
ruling by the top court would be final, as it does not allow appeals. A maximum
possible penalty is 10 years in a labor camp for such crimes, they say.
"I don't think North Korea is holding back the trial results, but is actually
continuing the trial," a source familiar with the case told Yonhap News Agency.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged North Korea Friday (Washington
time) to free the two reporters, adding her government has "explored various
approaches" including the use of special representatives to solve the issue.
Reports have said Gore, who currently serves as chairman of Current TV, may fly
to North Korea soon to negotiate the release of the journalists.
Gore is believed to be the right man for the role once played by New Mexico Gov.
Bill Richardson, then a U.S. congressman, who visited Pyongyang to successfully
negotiate the release of two Americans in 1994 and 1996.
Observers say holding the American reporters is one of Pyongyang's strategies
aimed at gaining the upper hand in negotiations with the Obama administration.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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