Jailed Journo: We Broke North Korean Law
Lisa Ling confirms sister's confession
Thursday, Jul 9, 2009 | Updated 4:17 PM PST
American journalists Laura Ling, left, and Euna Lee were sentenced to 12 years in a labor camp by a North Korea court.
The sister of an American journalist jailed in North Korea says the woman acknowledged breaking North Korean law during a recent phone call.
Lisa Ling told KCRA-TV in Sacramento she spoke to her sister, Laura Ling, Tuesday around 10:30 p.m.
Lisa Ling, former co-host of ABC's "The View" and a National Geographic Channel correspondent, said Laura told her she and the other American journalist being held, Euna Lee, violated North Korean law and need the U.S. government's help in obtaining amnesty.
Laura Ling and Lee were working for San Francisco-based Current TV, which former U.S. Vice President Al Gore helped found, when they were detained. They were sentenced last month to 12 years of hard labor for illegal entry and "hostile acts."
Laura Ling said her sister, who suffers from an ulcer, is regularly seeing physicians and is OK.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC Bay Area
Posted Friday, Jul 17, 2009 - 11:31 AM PST
