hankyoreh

March 21.

North Korea is believed to have investigated two U.S. reporters on “charges of spying” after they were seized by North Korean guards near the Tumen River at the border shared with China.

In a regular press briefing on March 24, when asked by a journalist to confirm news reports that the two U.S. reporters have been charged with espionage in North Korea, U.S. State Department spokesman Robert Wood said, “I‘ve seen those reports. We’re certainly aware of the charges.”

Reuters reported a high-ranking official at the U.S. State Department confirmed the fact that the message, the two reporters are charged with espionage was delivered to the U.S., but the official declined to elaborate. However, the State Department spokesman Wood said, “The North has assured us the detainees will be well-treated” emphasizing instead that the U.S. government received a guarantee of safety from North Korea for the detained reporters.

Behind the reason why North Korea sent an “ambivalent message” of charging the U.S. reporters with espionage and guaranteeing the safety of them, there may be the North‘s intention to use the case as a “pawn” to help speed up high-level talks with the U.S.

Analysts suggest that North Korea’s “ambivalent message” of confirming charges of espionage and guarantees for the journalists‘ safety while in detention may reveal the North’s intention to use the situation as a “pawn” to help speed up high-level talks with the U.S.

Wood announced, “We have formally requested authorities in the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang be provided with consular access to these two Americans,” indicating the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang has not yet met with the U.S. reporters about the journalists’ current status. Sweden represents the United States in North Korea, and the high-ranking official at the U.S. State Department indicated there is some difficulty in having diplomatic relations with the North, saying the U.S. is dealing with a counterpart that is very unpredictable.

Since the reporters were detained on March 17, the U.S. government has said it is making its utmost efforts to ensure their safety throughout various diplomatic channels, including a so-called New York channel between the North and the U.S., in addition to drawing on relations with the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang. However, the U.S. government has not yet issued an official statement demanding the release of the reporters. Analysts suggest that this is unprecedented for the US, as it is calmly and cautiously attempting to resolve the case at a time when tensions on the Korean Peninsula have been heightened by the announcement of North Korea’s plan to launch a satellite.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]