The North Korea story

Re “2 U.S. reporters get 12 years in N. Korea,” June 8

While I admire the courage of most reporters working in foreign lands, and I’m grateful for the service they provide, I can’t help but question the judgment of reporters who cross the line into foolishness by doing something like entering the territory of an evil regime or getting close enough to the border to be captured.

By allowing themselves to be put in the position of being used as bargaining chips on the international stage, these reporters have now placed all of us in jeopardy -- forcing the United States to compromise or to limit our diplomatic options.

David M. McCarthy

Culver City

America and these two women are sadly learning the difference between a “cowboy” in the White House and bows, apologies and empty talk. North Korea is flaunting its progress in nukes and missiles -- and President Obama will pose, look “cool” and pontificate.

Aaron L. Kolom

Los Angeles

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It seems obvious that the clique presently leading North Korea is trying to instigate actions by the West so that it can tighten control over any opposition in the name of protecting against “a foreign threat.”

The best policy would seem to be to do nothing hasty, which is exactly what the leaders don’t want.

At some point in the future, we can quietly try to gain the journalists’ freedom.

Roy Krausen

Laytonville, Calif.

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The two American journalists sentenced to 12 years of hard labor in North Korea got off easy. Everyone else in that country is sentenced to life.

Morris Schorr

Woodland Hills