Bargaining Chips?

" Today there is outrage over the harsh sentence for two young American journalists in North Korea will whirling in you know -- were working for current TV it was it's it's a network that was co founded by former vice president Al Gore. They were arrested near the border with China after the secret trial over the past couple of days we are learning today they have both. Just been found guilty of quote grave crimes they're sentenced twelve years of hard labor so what's next. Bob -- is the -- program coordinator for the committee to protect journalists Bob good to see you again. You -- analysts -- this morning the north doesn't want to release them without Washington paying a price and that's why. This sentences parsed it as it is what price are they asking you think."

" But we don't know. I I think what this situation everyone tried to avoid -- having these two women caught up in these larger geopolitical issues and on the peninsula. And it's pretty clear that that hasn't that hasn't happened. I think the in north Koreans are are really looking for recognition international recognition and an increased stature in I think they're looking for significant concessions from. The United States -- it doesn't really seem like they're going to get you."

" we talk about and the stature they're looking for the respect they're looking for some ahead. Thought that potentially they're looking for a high level envoy even somebody like an Al Gore whom these women work for your thoughts on that what you hear that."

" I think -- that's generally been understood that that would resolve this more quickly. I don't know at this point given the harshness of the sentence and and the harshness of their rhetoric coming from all the sides in these talks on the peninsula. I don't know that how world will be the will be good enough. But I -- is still well. You can look around and you could see other other prominent figures that they would like to have significant people from former government's. Perhaps former president Bill Clinton. Though the one thing that North Korea almost surely will -- as it is an official delegation from from the United States -- the State Department. And that's really the issue. See you thought you think that there's a possibility that Hillary Clinton us secretary of state could -- they dispatch her husband. You know. The secretary of state and then really the state departed -- there are playing a very close game here and they haven't taken us into their confidence. But what I would think is that. North Korea's is trying to extract the most out of that. And I think they fully realize that they won't get to a a but an official delegation so. Who -- the highest ranking people that that could go represented. In the past it governor Bill Richardson was good enough for North Korea I just wonder at this point within may not be there might not be looking for more and the governor this morning call this a high stakes poker -- my question to you is. How does this game play out who wins ultimately. You know this -- high stakes poker game that's been going on for fifty years on the on the Korean Peninsula and this one more. One more stage in that the few Americans who have been held by North Korea have eventually been released. There was governor Richardson and 98 and -- was oversaw the release of of an unstable guidance form across the river North Korea. And if you call on the 1968 there was the -- Winston and which. Naval vessel was -- in and the crew was kept for eleven months. They were finally released they worked her we currently abuse rather lock up subject to all sorts of abuse and torture. What we're getting so far -- that these two women aren't being held on the same conditions."

" Good bit of good news but -- real quickly. Do you see their release as you said it's not completely unprecedented -- at a situation like this. I do you see them being released and in what time period."

" Yes I do see them being released and it would be foolish for anyone to try and predict that I think. They have become a caught up in this in this in this larger game and it's really up to the State Department to. To to pursue that I think that they've made the very hard decision that. That while these for the pre release to it is important. They would there will not be major concessions made just as solely to gains -- release it it's a difficult -- since the very difficult game play."

" Have these committee to protect journalists we'll keep you updated -- hearing things out on your --"