[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 85 (Tuesday, June 9, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H6318]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          IMPRISONMENT OF AMERICAN JOURNALISTS IN NORTH KOREA

  (Mr. ROYCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, news came yesterday that Laura Ling and Euna 
Lee, two American journalists held in North Korea, and held there since 
March, have been found guilty of illegally entering North Korea. 
They've been sentenced to 12 years of hard labor. These court 
proceedings were a cruel joke, nothing more than a kangaroo court. I 
know of no justice system in North Korea. The two should be immediately 
released.
  As if there were any doubts, the North Korean regime has shown its 
true colors, a hostile regime bent on destroying the lives of its own 
citizens and others.
  Let's be clear. These two wouldn't have been near North Korea were it 
not for the barbaric cruelty of its regime. Ling and Lee were convicted 
of so-called ``grave crimes.'' It is the North Korean regime that 
commits real grave crimes against millions of North Koreans every day.
  President Obama, himself, must make it clear that this action cannot 
stand. Now is the time for urgent action.

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