The Purpose of North Korea’s Sentencing of the American Journalists

International pressure as well as American and South Korean troop movements must certainly intimidate North Korea. What is more, North Korea is unable to afford a war right now due to its economy; thus North Korea has shifted from engagement with a military focus to a more diplomatic tone with the capture of the two American journalists.

Amidst the current tensions on the Korean peninsula, North Korean judges handed down a 12-year sentence of hard labor to American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee. This was intentional: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary has openly stated that the charges brought against the two American journalists is “without any merit,” saying that the U.S. is considering restoring North Korea to the State Sponsors of Terrorism list.

But this is actually part of North Korea’s efforts to reduce the possibility of military conflict, although with a tough attitude. The reason behind actions like North Korea’s recent underground nuclear test was to draw Obama’s attention so that North Korea and the U.S could begin diplomatic negotiations as soon as possible. Obama once promised to negotiate with countries like North Korea and Iran. However, Obama is facing a difficult domestic economic situation and has not been able to focus on North Korea. North Korea’s recent nuclear test forced the Obama administration to pay attention to North Korea’s plight.

The sentencing of the two American journalists makes it possible to restart the dialogue between North Korea and the United States. Relatives of the journalists have pleaded in the media for the U.S. and North Korean authorities to enter into talks. They are bravely facing the current situation with the hope that North Korea will release their daughters and allow them to come home. Under pressure from the communities supporting the journalists, U.S. State Department has expressed their “deep concerns” for the two and is seeking their release through various channels.

An intricate “dance” of diplomacy between North Korea and the United States will begin. The two women are journalists for former Vice President Al Gore’s Current TV and Al Gore is a person accepted by the North Koreans. Thus the U.S. and North Korea have a readily available mediator: Gore. Incidentally, Gore has already volunteered to visit North Korea as Current TV’s founder in an attempt to rescue his employees. It is therefore likely that the sentencing of the two journalists will be a prelude to the restart of the dialogue between North Korea and the United States.

Indeed, there have been previous incidences of dialogues between North Korea and the U.S being initiated hostage situations. In 1994, a helicopter pilot, who was stationed with U.S. troops on the peninsula, was captured by the North Koreans. Through the mediation of U.S. negotiator Bill Richardson, the pilot was released. Two years later, after Evan Hunziker, a South Korean-American, swam to North Korea illegally across the Yalu River, North Korea kept him in custody for 3 months. It was Richardson who again solved the problem by mediation, agreeing to pay North Korea $5000 to foot the “bill” of Hunziker’s stay.

The sentence given to the two American journalists is intended to stop a potential military conflict by replacing it with a diplomatic one. Although North Korea has never been weak with its words, international pressure along with the American and South Korean troop presence certainly must intimidate North Korea. Moreover, it is impossible for North Korea to afford a war given its economic situation; as a result North Korea has had to shift from a militaristic tone to a more diplomatic one by the capture of the American journalists. If Gore can visit North Korea, the tension caused by North Korea’s nuclear test and willingness to launch ICBMs will be reduced. When the first North Korean nuclear crisis broke out in 1994, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter visited North Korea and met Kim Il Sung, providing a precedent for the current situation on the Korean peninsula. In October 2000, then Secretary of State Albright visited North Korea and discussed the possibility of President Clinton’s visit to North Korea, starting a new chapter in U.S.-North Korea relations.

Whether it’s North Korea, the U.S. or any of the countries involved in the six-party talks, nobody wants to start a war now because they are all worried about the current financial crisis. The Obama administration is in a good position to build a relationship with North Korea similar to the one that the Clinton government had. Gore’s international reputation and Democratic background will make him the most likely person to play the role of “outside mediator” between North Korea and the U.S. and thus make U.S.-North Korea relations take a few steps forward. Now, we will need to wait and see whether Gore’s visit to North Korea can become reality.