International

Rev. Jesse Jackson Willing To Go To Pyongyang

Published June 10, 2009 at 9:00 AM PDT

This story was published more than 15 years ago.

A south Korean conservative activist holds pictures of U.S. journalists Euna Lee (left) and Laura Ling during a June 4 rally denouncing North Korea's detention of the journalists.

Rev. Jesse Jackson has successfully negotiated the release of political prisoners on more than one occassion, including the 1999 release of U.S. soldiers held hostage in Kosovo. And the civil rights leader says he is willing to engage in sensitive diplomacy talks with North Korea to secure the release of Laura Ling and Euna Lee, two U.S. journalists recently sentenced by a North Korean court to 12 years of hard labor.

Ling and Euna Lee were detained by North Korean officials along the border with China more than three months ago. The United States has no diplomatic relations with North Korean government, leading some to wonder whether negotiations for the journalists' release will ever happen.

Jackson discusses the women's case and explains obstacles to securing their freedom.

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