Mizzou Reads speaker to welcome North Korean detainee Laura Ling
September 4, 2012
One misstep in March 2009 cost Laura Ling 201,600 minutes of her life.
Invited by the Mizzou Reads Speakers as part of their New Student Program, Ling, an American journalist and author, was reporting on the trafficking of North Korean women in 2009 near the Chinese-North Korean border when she was captured by North Korean soldiers and imprisoned for 140 days. It was only after Kim Jong-il, then-leader of North Korea, issued a special pardon that she was allowed to return home.
Mid-Missourians have the chance to listen to Ling speak from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 6, at the Missouri Theatre, 203 South 9th Street. Admission is free and no ticket is required.
By Sophie Whyte
Annamarie • Sep 7, 2012 at 3:38 pm
It’s possible we might never know why Laura and her friend were captured. Laura said she speculates they were possibly set up by their travel guide that day (he may have owed a favor to North Korea). I don’t think N. Korea has any good reason for what they did, but they don’t look favorably upon journalists or free speech. Laura thinks they might still be detained today if not for the efforts of Bill Clinton, whom Kim Jong-il was fond of (even though he did not approve of many Americans).
Erik Miller • Sep 7, 2012 at 10:14 am
If I offend anyone with what I’m about to say, I apologize, I’m only expressing an opinion. I did not attend her presentation by the way, so I am a little uninformed.
First off, when I first heard about this, I was skepital; in the past (key word), N. Korea has been very harsh to any United States citizen, so I figured that either the reporter would be tormented and never allowed to leaver or would just never be allowed to leave. I was wrong on all accounts.
Second, I just can’t understand what prevoked N. Korean officials to capture her in the first place. They probably thought that she was a spy, but if so, why did they release her so quickly? And would they not observe her closely until they captured her?
Nevertheless, I am disapointed that I missed this otherwise I would not be asking so many questions
Maria • Sep 5, 2012 at 7:53 pm
This is cool