Created Mon 8th Jun 2:28pm PST by

onedave [Power User]

Will Ling or Lee (or both) be released from North Korean labor camp during 2009?

Settled as Yes

Both women were freed on August 4th.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/08/04/nkorea.clinton/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC8JUUUx4Lw

Background:

Background: On June 8, a North Korean court sentenced Laura Ling and Euna Lee to 12 years in a labor camp. The two American journalists were convicted of a "grave crime" and an illegal border crossing. The trial was closed to outside observers. However, legal analysts believe the journalists were sentenced to 10 years for hostile acts and two years for illegal entry.

Most experts agree that Ling and Lee will be released when North Korea wants to talk to the United States. Andrei Lankov, an expert about North Korea, said that "it will take many months and perhaps a year or more before the Pyongyang authorities will decide that it's time to make some friendly gesture to Washington." Other experts are hopeful of a quicker resolution.

Additional information:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2009/06/08/ST2009060801171.html

Settlement details:As reported by a major mainstream news source.

Forecast history %

Yes

63%

37%

Settled as Yes on Sun 30th Aug 1:06pm PST

Activity: H$78,128
Predictions: 52
Comments: 5

Suspend date: Wed 30th Dec 11:59pm PST (5 weeks to go)
Settlement date: Sun 30th Aug 1:06pm PST
Prediction cut-off: Predictions on this question after Tue 4th Aug 7am PST have been voided because they were made after the question could be settled

Initial likelihoods: Yes: 50%

Action history:

Created Mon 8th Jun 2:28pm PST by

onedave [Power User]

Suspended Tue 4th Aug 12:23pm PST by

jenniandboys [Admin]

: breaking news

Settlement requested Tue 4th Aug 1pm PST by

randburg Level 20, Hubdub God (H$5,006,687)

: Both pardoned:

http://my.att.net/s/editorial.dll?fromspage=all/home.htm&categoryid=&bfromind=7405&eeid=6729443&_sitecat=1505&dcatid=0&eetype=article&render=y&ac=-2&ck=&ch=ne&rg=blsadstrgt

Settlement requested Tue 4th Aug 2:23pm PST by

onedave [Power User]

: Please settle as 'yes.' North Korea ordered the release of the journalists.
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/08/04/ap6738772.html

Settlement requested Mon 10th Aug 8:57am PST by

oocares Level 13, Psychic (H$57,319)

: Released, although it now appears they where never in a labour camp.....

Settlement requested Sat 15th Aug 11:21am PST by

donnamil Level 15, Seer (H$282,460)

: www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/08/04/nkorea.clinton/

Settlement requested Sun 23rd Aug 11:20pm PST by

tuff_sledding [Power User]

: Clearly, they were released. They were not actually in the labor camp, but it seems to me taht the spirit of the question was about their release from North Korea's captivity, so I think it would be fair to settle it as yes...

Settlement requested Tue 25th Aug 2:49pm PST by

onedave [Power User]

: foxnews started their report at 3:13 pm.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC8JUUUx4Lw

Settlement requested Thu 27th Aug 5:06pm PST by

donnamil Level 15, Seer (H$282,460)

: Why hasn't this settled? They're free.

Settled as 'Yes' Sun 30th Aug 1:06pm PST by