Will President Clinton Be Able To Get The Reporters Released?

[Deb in IA]

I think whoever said a deal had already been negotiated was probably right- but it's still fantastic news!!!!

I think you are right too. Heck, it may have even been the suggestion of the No. Koreans - as in, "Hey, we'll pardon those journalist/spies, if you guys send over a top level diplomat to help us 'save face'. Like, maybe an ex-President, or so, and everyone will walk away happy."

 

[Imzadi]

I think you are right too. Heck, it may have even been the suggestion of the No. Koreans - as in, "Hey, we'll pardon those journalist/spies, if you guys send over a top level diplomat to help us 'save face'. Like, maybe an ex-President, or so, and everyone will walk away happy."

Yes, this was discussed as on one of the news stations as a possibility. They said the president(?) (well head guy, what ever they call him,) of N.Korea is very much disliked by his own people. Plus, he's supposedly close to being on Death's door himself. Having his picture taken with an ex-American pres, showing that he has that much power in the world and is seen as such a formidable force to be dealt with, would be great for his historical record before he dies.

 

[Deb in IA]

Photo op for Kim Jong Il!! Even before he got sick, the guy was nuts.


And if Clinton was willing to go along with it, well, so much the better for him. At least it got the 2 women freed.

 

[novajeanjellybean]

I also wondered if Ling's sister's documentary had anything to do with the severity of the sentence.

If you've seen the doc, you'd know that, yes, Kim Jong Il was nuts!!!!!

I'm glad they got those ladies outta there.

 

[Imzadi]

Photo op for Kim Jong Il!! Even before he got sick, the guy was nuts.

In the last few weeks, his actions have shown him to be even nuttier.

and you know with Asian cultures, saving face & how they appear to the public is an extremely important thing. They'd rather die or go to war than back down and be humiliated.

Remember that time a U.S. plane had to land in China because they had engine trouble? Then the Chinese wouldn't give the plane back and the passengers were "detained" for about 7 days. ALL China wanted was an apology for landing in their country when the airport told them not to and for accidentally having a collision with one of their planes (though that was their pilot's fault.) It took the U.S. those extra 7 days to figure out that's all China wanted. Heck, I was going to write a letter and send it to the White House. Just apologise!

When they finally figured it out, they gave an "apology" that didn't really apologise for anything. (Of course the U.S. sympathized with the pilot's family.) But, China was happy, they got their apology & we got our plane & the passengers back.