Two American journalists in North Korea have been in jail since the middle of March. The country convicted the two women to twelve years of hard labor. North Korea said that the Americans were spying, not reporting the news.

The trial took five days, and the decision came from the country's highest court. Therefore the decision cannot be changed. Nor can the decision be tried in a different court. The two Americans have no options, and will move to the prison camp within ten days.

However, most experts agree that the two reporters have now become important in negotiations with the US. North Korea can use the women for aid, for example. North Korea can also use the two reporters when discussing their recent nuclear tests.

Not much is known about the country's labor camps. However, harsh labor and frequent beatings are probably common.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What do you know about North Korea? Please explain.
2. What do you think about North Korea? Please explain.
3. Do you think the journalists were really spying? Why/not?
4. What do you think will happen to the journalists?
5. Should journalists be able to report on anything freely?
6. Should reporters be put in jail for doing their job?

PHOTO CREDIT: koreatimes.com

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South Korea has become the sixth nation in the world and the first Asian to reach the World Cup finals for the seventh straight time after it ousted the United Arab Emirates in a 2-0 win Sunday morning. The national team, led by coach Huh Jung-moo, qualified for a berth in the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa regardless of the outcome of its two remaining games in the qualifying round.

Korea first appeared in the quadrennial event in Switzerland in 1954, but then failed to qualify for the World Cup before advancing in the 1986 competition in Mexico. Since then the team has been a regular attendant.

Among the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) members, Korea is the only team to secure seven straight berths to the finals and its eight appearances are also the most. Middle East powerhouse Saudi Arabia, which is tied for second with North Korea in Group B, is seeking its fifth consecutive qualification while archrival Japan has already pulled off its fourth-straight attendance. Both have played four times in the tournament.

As of Sunday, at the international level, five-time champion Brazil has shown up in all 18 events since its establishment in 1930, followed by Germany, which has won three titles, with 16 appearances in total, including 14 consecutive ones, and defending champion Italy with 14 overall appearances, including a 12 competition streak. Argentina and Spain have played at the World Cup for nine and eight times straight, respectively, along with combined 12 and 13 berths. England, Mexico and Belgium qualified for the World Cup finals six times in a row, but their streaks are up now. The United States, which has qualified for the past five World Cups, is now bidding for its sixth consecutive participation.

SOURCE: koreatimes.com

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