White House Focused on U.S. journalists Sentenced in North Korea

The Obama White House, from the President on down, is focused “very closely” on the fate of two U. S. journalists sentenced to 12 years of hard labor in a North Korea prison after being convicted of illegally entering the secretive Communist country.

“We are all focused on the journalists very closely. And by we, I mean all levels of the U.S. government. These are young women with families - one with a 4-year old daughter - and we are making clear to North Korea through many channels that they should be released and reunited with their families," a senior White House official told Fox News.

Euna Lee and Laura Ling were found guilty of the "grave crime they committed against the Korean nation."  The verdict was reached after their four-day trial ended Monday.  White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters on Monday there have been no attempts by North Korea to tie the journalists conviction with other issues.  North Korea defined the United Nations and the United States with its May 25th nuclear atomic test.

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