Tuesday, October 21, 2014
American Released from Imprisonment in North Korea
Recently, Jeffrey Fowle, an American citizen detained in North Korea, was released after six months in prison. Fowle was arrested for leaving behind a Bible in a North Korean nightclub. Sweden played a role in helping release Fowle, as the United States has no formal relations with North Korea. Two Americans remain in detainment in North Korea.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
This is excellent news. We justifiably do not recognize North Korea's totalitarian government, which, as the article points out, has made evangelical Christianity a crime. The copious human rights violations committed by North Korea should not be tolerated. However, Sweden, not the United States, was instrumental in negotiating his release. It may not be a high priority at the moment, but we should be working harder to remove the other two Americans from custody.
ReplyDelete(Maybe we could send Ambassador Rodman over to work his magic.)
I am not by any means suggesting we neglect the Americans in North Korean custody but anybody who travels to North Korea knows full well the dangers of travelling to such a country. If they knoew the danger and go there anyways then I don't think the American government should make their release a top priorty, though it should be something they are actively working on. In my opinion, I think something needs to be done right away about the horrendous human rights violations that take place every day in North Korea. I don't think we can ignore their concentration camps any longer. We must do something to not only free the Americans trapped within North Koreas borders, but also its own citizens.
ReplyDeleteThe United States has extended a rather generous arm to North Korea, offering the hope of diplomatic relations even after all that has transpired between the two nations, but, of course, North Korea doesn't care about good relations with the US. I agree with Becky that people who travel in such a hostile country should expect to undergo terrible trials. The involvement of the Swedish embassy in this case interests me, but not much information about that matter was included. I think that it is good that interactions between the nations include more than just the two you might expect. International cooperation is necessary if North Korea's injustices are to be impacted.
ReplyDeleteI wonder exactly what the Swedish embassy was able to do to free this man, that his own country was unable to. Does North Korea have better relations with Sweden than with the US? If so, maybe we could use this to free the remaining two men. Also, if we put a lot of energy into freeing these men, we should also make sure nothing like this will happen again, most liekly by discouraging Americans to enter North Korea at all.
ReplyDeleteI think the US should try to establish formal relations with North Korea. By not establishing them we're showing how we don't support their cruel human rights violations, yet we still end up communicating with them when our citizens are being detained there. We don't communicate with North Korea on paper, but we do it anyway through other countries, which defeats the purpose. I'm glad this American was released and I hope the rest can also come home, but at the same time it seems crazy that the American government has to go through months of compromising to bring home Americans who went to North Korea well aware of the dangers it entails.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Becky. If Americans know what kind of government North Korea has, why would you want to go there in the first place and possibly put your life on the line. It also shocks me that the United States could not get an American out of North Korea but Sweden can. I think that the United States should start learning from Sweden and see what type of relationship they have with North Korea and start learning it.
ReplyDeleteGoing into North Korea is a risk. Anyone who doesn't live under a rock would at least have an idea of what happens there and should know that it's not a great place to go vacationing. Because of this, I don't think that it should be the top priority to get them out. It's not that I think they should be neglected or "punished", but the travelers should understand that they assume these risks and have to desk with the consequences. In this case, the consequence is waiting for someone to work out their release.
ReplyDeleteOkay, am I the only person who's curious as to why someone brought a bible to a nightclub in the first place?
Don't you usually bring one?
DeleteWhy would anyone from America be in North Korea? Clearly the US has no diplomatic relations with North Korea. Anyone who travels to North Korea is not only putting themselves in harms way but also our own government. Therefore, I do not think getting them out of the country should be a top priority.
ReplyDeleteSweden, as a county generally rooted in the ideas of diplomacy, has made it clear that the best way to ensure safety is not through violence. It is wonderful that this person was released but again why does violence always lead to violence and diplomacy lead to compromise. I think it is pretty obvious to note which was the better choice in this occasion.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone wondered what a North Korean is like
ReplyDeleteThis is good news though. Any time I hear news about North Korea I wonder why anyone would want to travel there for any reason. In the grand scheme of things North Korea is just that kid that no one likes and they do reckless things for attention. It's great news that the journalist was released and that type of anti-diplomatic behavior should not be tolerated,
Fantastic news that we got our boy back. However, North Korea and their occult, belligerent regime has been a thorn in the side of the civilized world for too long. They extort the west for attention. The kidnapping of Americans should be the last straw on top of many other malevolent actions committed by North Korea. Finish the job. Wipe them off the map.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think the guy who was in North Korea with a bible was just asking for trouble. That is not a good idea; however, six months in prison is unreasonable. I think that the United Nations should intervene in North Korea becuase the conditions there are a human rights issue.
ReplyDeleteI am definitely rooting for more diplomatic discussions, rather than punishing individual Americans for arbitrary crimes. However, North Korea isn't particularly known for being reasonable. I agree that nobody should be traveling to this country. I feel that it only gives the North Korean government leverage over the U.S.
ReplyDeleteI feel the United States should take a harder stance against North Korea. If any American is imprisoned for such a mundane "crime" as leaving a bible in a bathroom and then imprisoned for months, the American government should see that as unacceptable. In regards to the other Americans imprisoned, 15 years hard labor is a heinous punishment. We need to stop letting North Korea have any sort of leverage over the US, and we need to stop the iodiocracy that is happening in Kim Jong Un's tyrannical government.
ReplyDelete