N. Korea sentences U.S. man to 12 years hard labour

[StemCell]

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/04/06/northkorea-american.html#ixzz0kNRfvqov

North Korea has sentenced an American man to eight years at hard labour for illegally entering the country and for unspecified hostile acts.

Korean Central News Agency said in a statement that Aijalon Mahli Gomes acknowledged his wrongdoing during a court ruling Tuesday.

Gomes, who is from Boston, was arrested last month.

The harsh penalty is similar to the one handed to two American journalists in June 2009.

Reporter Laura Ling and editor Euna Lee were sentenced to 12 years at hard labour after the two were accused of crossing into North Korea to capture video for a "smear campaign" focused on human rights.

They were released two months later after former U.S. president Bill Clinton met with Kim Jong-il and the North Korean leader issued a "special pardon" for them.

[RabidSheep]

My thoughts and prayers are with Aijalon Mahli Gomes. I wonder why he was attempting to enter North Korea in the first place. Not exactly a vacation spot.

[citizenx]

It was eight years.  He was protesting the holding of the Korean American missionary, Robert Park, who has already "confessed" and publicly apologized for his actions -- entering N.K. illegally.

Gomes was an English teacher here in S.K. like me.  He attended two (Christian?) rallies in S.K. to try to get Park released.

I believe his actions were misguided, but my heart goes out to him and his family.

He was even teaching in the same city near N.K. as me.  I'm near the border, north of Seoul.

His fine was 70 million N.K. won (about 700,000$ U.S.)

[ES]

It was eight years.  He was protesting the holding of the Korean American missionary, Robert Park, who has already "confessed" and publicly apologized for his actions -- entering N.K. illegally.

Gomes was an English teacher here in S.K. like me.  He attended two (Christian?) rallies in S.K. to try to get Park released.

I believe his actions were misguided, but my heart goes out to him and his family.

He was even teaching in the same city near N.K. as me.  I'm near the border, north of Seoul.

His fine was 70 million N.K. won (about 700,000$ U.S.)

So what did he think he was going to do? break the guy out of jail or something?

[citizenx]

Robert Park was already released in Feb.  Gomes entered N.K. Jan. 25.  Ironic.

Park stated that "religous rights were fully ensured" in the public statement that he made.  This propaganda piece coupled with Kim Jong-Il's desire to look like a great humanitarian from time to time may have lead to his release.

Gomes admitted responsibility at his hearing.  Hopefully, he has learned to go along with them, so he can get out as well, the next time Kim wants to show what a "mensch" he is.