By Former Pocheon English teacher and Uijongbu resident Aijalon Gomes who crossed over into North Korea for probably religious reasons has now been sentenced by the North Korean regime:
An American has been sentenced to eight years of hard labor and fined the equivalent of $700,000 for illegal entry into North Korea.
Aijalon Mahli Gomes, 30, who had taught English in South Korea, is the fourth U.S. citizen in a little more than a year to walk into North Korea from China and get arrested.
Two TV journalists received 12-year sentences last June but were allowed to leave the country after former president Bill Clinton flew to Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital. A missionary who entered the North on Christmas to protest human rights abuses was released in February after what the government described as his “sincere repentance.”
Gomes, also a human rights activist, seems likely to be used by North Korea as a bargaining chip as it negotiates with the United States and four other countries over the resumption of stalled nuclear disarmament talks. [Washington Post]
It does appear that the North Koreans were not able to get him to crack and sign some false confession like they did with Robert Park. As foolish as his act may be at least I guess he can say he was committed enough to face the consequences without signing a false confession to get released? Just like all the past cases of Americans being detained in North Korea this guy will eventually get released well before the end of his sentence. The only question is what the price for his release will be? Since he is not a good looking and well connected reporter with a famous sister, don’t expect Bill Clinton to be the guy to get him released. If the US restarts food aid to the country in return for the North Koreans to restart nuclear negotiations his release may be thrown in as a goodwill gesture by the North Koreans in response to some kind of apology from the State Department for his trespassing.
Something like this will be worked out because I just don’t see his detainment lasting longer than a year.
11:34 am on April 7th, 2010 1
Where's Al Gore? Slick Willy? Hillory? Apparently this guy has zero political friends to pull his bacon out of the fire.
He will be put on a side burner, until something else arises that his his name may be mentioned.
What he did was not PC.
12:20 pm on April 7th, 2010 2
He has people in his corner, including the Robert Park crew.
Speaking of whom, as I wrote HERE, I think this turn of events means Robert Park needs to be put on a suicide watch.
12:23 pm on April 7th, 2010 3
The State Department didn't send Aijalon Gomes to North Korea, so it shouldn't apologize. I don't recall it apologizing for Laura Ling and Euna Lee. If it did apologize, can someone please show me?
Since Kim Jong-Il has already enjoyed a visit by Bill Clinton, he may be aiming higher. How about Sarah Palin?
12:30 pm on April 7th, 2010 4
Any mention of the former Alaska governor and aiming reminds me of the "Nailin' Palin" stuff that became a cottage industry in 2008 and 2009.
1:57 pm on April 7th, 2010 5
I hope it reminds you how tasteless that was.
2:03 pm on April 7th, 2010 6
How tasteless my comment was or how tasteless the whole Nailin' Palin thing was? Because I really do think the it was tasteless (see HERE, but I don't know if my own comment was more than a notch worse than Glans's.
Well, on second thought, maybe I was misreading his comment, which I thought was about a lascivious Kim Jong-il salivating over a visit by Gov Palin. And if that's not what he was getting at, my apologies for going in that direction.
3:07 pm on April 7th, 2010 7
At least now we know what the ransom is.
4:54 pm on April 7th, 2010 8
I meant that Kim Jong-Il might appreciate a visit by a distinguished American. Instead of "aiming higher" I could have said "hoping for a more admired citizen".
11:09 am on April 8th, 2010 9
This is a bit off topic, but:
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9EU…
11:12 am on April 9th, 2010 10
Perhaps Kagykistan, or Iran. I'm sure Hezzbolah, or Hamas officials could enjoy the wonders of NK as well. The Syrians, I'm sure would be lining up for the chance.(And NK knows what big spenders the Syrians are).