U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has reacted positively to the news that American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee are to be put on trial in Pyongyang next month. Making an appearance with the Malaysian foreign minister, Clinton remarked, “Actually the trial date being set we view as a welcome time frame.”
“The fact that they are going to have some process we believe is a signal that there can be, and I hope will be, a resolution as soon as possible,” she continued.
Clinton also took the opportunity to assert the innocence of the two detainees, despite the news of the impending trial, saying, “We believe that the charges are baseless and should not have been brought, and that these two young women should be released immediately.”
The two journalists were arrested on March 17th while doing research on the North Korea-China border for an American TV channel. Though the Chosun Central News Agency (KCNA) has announced that their trial date is set for June 4th, they are apparently continuing to be deprived by the North Korean authorities of access to the consular representation provided in lieu of America by the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang, according to Thursday’s U.S. State Department press briefing.
Calling on North Korea to “abide by all of its international commitments including, of course, its commitment to allow consular access,” a State Department spokesman nevertheless dismissed the idea that the U.S. might consider sending an envoy to secure the release of the two, stating clearly that “at this time, we’re not contemplating anybody going to Pyongyang.”
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Clinton also touched briefly on the Six-Party Talks in her comments, announcing that, “The ball is in the North Korean court. We are not concerned about chasing after North Korea, offering concessions.”
“We intend to have an open door for a return to the six-party talks and China, which is the chair, has made it clear as well to the North Koreans that they wish to see this begin again,” she said.
Similar words were echoed by Special Representative Stephen Bosworth in his remarks after concluding talks in Tokyo earlier this week. There, Bosworth also stated that the U.S. was both “committed” to the Six-Party process and “eager to get back to the table as soon as it’s feasible.”
