Sentencing of Journalists Adds to U.S.-N. Korea Tensions

JIM LEHRER:

North Korea's highest court convicted two U.S. television journalists today of entering the country illegally. The announcement added to rising tensions with the communist regime.

Jeffrey Brown has our lead story report.

JEFFREY BROWN:

The two Americans — Laura Ling and Euna Lee — were sentenced to 12 years hard labor in the notoriously brutal North Korean prison system.

The pair work for Current TV, a San Francisco-based venture co-founded by former Vice President Al Gore.

They were detained near the North Korea-China border in March. It's unclear if they strayed across or were grabbed by North Korean guards.

Today's verdict was harsher than expected, and it followed a secretive court proceeding that lasted five days. It was also the latest in a series of provocations. Over the last two months, the North Koreans have conducted a long-range missile launch and an underground nuclear test.

In Washington today, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the journalists' detention should not be linked to the standoff over the North's nuclear program.

HILLARY CLINTON, Secretary of State: We think the imprisonment, trial and sentencing of Laura and Euna should be viewed as a humanitarian matter. We hope that the North Koreans will grant clemency and deport them. There are other concerns that we and the international community have with North Korea, but those are separate and apart from what's happening to the two journalists.

JEFFREY BROWN:

On Sunday, Secretary Clinton also said the Obama administration is considering tougher steps against North Korea over the recent tests, including possibly intercepting sea and air traffic.

And the North Koreans said today they may begin a new series of missile tests in the waters off the Korean peninsula.