Laura Ling

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Laura G. Ling (Chinese 凌志 美; pinyin Líng Zhìměi ; born December 1, 1976 in Carmichael , USA ) is an American journalist who works as a correspondent for Current TV . She and her colleague, journalist Euna Lee , were imprisoned in North Korea in 2009 after allegedly crossing the border into North Korea from the People's Republic of China without a visa. After former US President Bill Clinton flew to North Korea and met with Kim Jong-il there, they were finally pardoned.

life and career

Ling has Taiwanese roots. Her parents are Doug and Mary Ling. She grew up in Sacramento. Her sister Lisa Ling is a special correspondent for The Oprah Winfrey Show , National Geographic Explorer and CNN . Laura Ling graduated from Del Campo High School , Fair Oaks , California and graduated from the University of California in Los Angeles with a degree in communications in 1998 . She is married to Iain Clayton, with whom they have a daughter.

Her journalist career began as a producer on Channel One News , then on documentary series on MTV . Then she switched to Current TV, where she reported on Cuba , Indonesia , the Philippines , Turkey , the West Bank and the Amazon , but also on the slums in São Paulo , gangs and homeless people in Los Angeles and the underground churches in the People's Republic of China . Before she was arrested, she reported on the Mexican drug war .

The arrest in North Korea in 2009

In the last week of March 2009, North Korea announced that two American female journalists had been arrested and charged with attempting to enter the country illegally. On May 3, 2009 it was officially announced that the arrested journalists were Ling and Euna Lee. The arrest came after they tried to film refugees on the border with the People's Republic of China. In June 2009, they were sentenced to twelve years in a labor camp for illegally entering North Korea and unspecified hostile behavior . Many media spoke of a show trial . Lisa Ling announced that when her sister and Euna Lee left the United States, they had no plans to enter North Korea. She also announced that her sister needed medical attention because she had an ulcer .

The United States government made diplomatic efforts to overturn the sentence.

Ling was finally pardoned along with Euna Lee after former US President Bill Clinton paid an unannounced visit to North Korea on August 4, 2009. Both then returned to the USA.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ North Korea pardons US reporters , BBC News. 4th August 2009. 
  2. ^ Al Two Paths, Same Fate for Reporters Facing Prison . In: The New York Times
  3. ↑ Michael Y. Park: Lisa Ling's Sister Arrested in North Korea , People . March 23, 2009. 
  4. ^ Reporters get 12-year terms in N. Korea . CNN , June 8, 2009.
  5. ^ North Korea jails US journalists , BBC News . June 8, 2009. 
  6. ↑ open.salon.com/blog
  7. ↑ Laura Ling, Euna Lee, US Journalists, Sentenced To 12 Years In North Korea . The Huffington Post
  8. ^ Katie Bosland, Sarah Netter, Katie Hinman: US Fighting North Korea Labor Camp Sentence for Laura Ling, Euna Lee . ABC News , June 8, 2009.
  9. ↑ N. Korean leader reportedly pardons US journalists , CNN . August 4, 2009. Retrieved August 5, 2009. 
  10. ^ North Korea: 2 US journalists pardoned , Associated Press . August 4, 2009. Retrieved August 5, 2009. 
personal data
SURNAME Ling, Laura
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Ling, Laura G.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American journalist
DATE OF BIRTH 1st December 1976
PLACE OF BIRTH Carmichael (California)