Freed U.S. journalists suspect they were “Lured into a Trap”

Caitlin Adams
9/2/09
11:53 pm
Freed U.S. journalists suspect they were “Lured into a Trap”
We have all heard the story of Laura Ling and Euna Lee being arrested and held in captivity in North Korea for five months. After thinking about the series of events around their arrest, Ling and Lee became suspicious that they were “lured” by their guide into North Korea to be arrested. The two journalists were in China reporting on North Korean defections to China and the human-trafficking industry that is a growing problem. They were with their guide at the Tumen River, which was frozen, in March to observe a well used traffic course. The two recall being lead closer and closer to the North Korean side of the river although it was unclear where the border was. They also recall their guide making deep hooting sounds. When the women became nervous they headed back across the river to Chinese soil but it was too late. They were both sentenced to 12 years of hard labor but let go in August.
I find Lee’s and Ling’s suspicions very interesting. This just reinforces the rule to always listen to your gut feeling when in an unfamiliar situation. The two were feeling uneasy and nervous about being in an area where they did not really know if it was China or North Korea. That is the point where I would have been looking for an out. I feel they put themselves in a dangerous position especially when crossing the frozen river to the North Korean border. Although they were “on the job” reporting, I feel like you have to draw a line when it comes to your safety. This article makes me think twice about what kinds of situations I put myself in and to always be aware of my surroundings. Do not test your gut feelings because you never know what can happen.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/09/02/journalists.ordeal/index.html