The title of a recently released Yahoo! article is simply "2 US journalists on trial in North Korea" which again is kind of bland, but we are in a nuclear standoff with the DPRK.

According to analyst Choi Eun-suk, a professor of North Korean law at Kyungnam University, "The North is likely to release and deport them to the US - if negotiations go well". Of course, "go well" means with Kim Jong-il calling all the shots and doing everything his way. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS AND SHAMEFUL.

According to David Straub a professor of North Korean studies at Stanford U(niversity, North Korea "believes (that) the Obama administration has not made North Korea a priority" and Kim Jong-il is of course ready to pounce and take full advantage of this situation.

Meanwhile, Ling's family was basically pleading. According to Ling's older sister, Lisa, speaking on CNN's "Larry King Live", "All we can do is hope (that) the North Korean government will show some leniency. If, at any point, they committed a transgression then our families are deeply, deeply sorry. We know the girls are sorry as well". This appeal is likely to fall on deaf ears.

Furthermore, "Tensions are so heated and the girls are in the midst of a nuclear standoff". Lisa Ling urged both the US and North Korean governments to "try to communicate (and) to try to bring our situation to a resolution ON HUMANITARIAN GROUNDS - to separate the issues". This is very dangerous, because many hostage situations that end "on humanitarian grounds" end with the captives being beheaded or executed in some other brutal/ghastly fashion.

Laura Ling reportedly posted "Toom many sad stories" on Twitter shortly before she was arrested or abducted or kidnapped would be a more accurate description of what happened to Ling and Lee.

Lisa Ling's final comments were "My sister said that the only hope that she and Euna had to get released was if our government and North Korea's COMMUNICATED DIRECTLY. I know that you've been trying to get other countries but OUR ONLY HOPE is if OUR COUNTRIES TALK". This must happen fast, in order to ensure, as much as possible, that Ling and Lee will not suffer anymore.

According to State Department spokesman PJ Crowley, "We continue to consult with the families. And there is no higher priority that we have than protection of American civilians abroad. And we, again, HOPE that North Korea will forgo this legal process and return them to the United States". When used in this context, "hope" sounds like a desperate plea and the more desperate we seem, the more bold our enemies will become. It seems like we no longer have the upper hand in negotiating the release of Ling and Lee. NORTH KOREA has that now and that is not a good sign.

According to a statement issued by Bob Dietz of the Committee to Protect Journalists, "We urge their fate (to) not be linked to the ongoing security situation on the Korean Peninsula. Euna Ling and Laura Ling were acting as journalists, not criminals and should be released". Kim Jong-il evidently doesn't think so and in dictatorial North Korea,Kim Jong-il's opinion is the only opinion that counts.

According to 44-year-old JB MIller, "Nobody should be holding people FOR PURELY POLITICAL GAMESMANSHIP PURPOSES". This is exactly what the DPRK seems to be doing now.

Roxana Saberi, who was recently released from a notorious Iranian prison camp, also sympathizes with Ling and Lee: "If Laura and Euna's situation resembles anything like mine, I CAN IMAGINE A LITTLE OF WHAT THEY MIGHT BE WISHING FOR. The presumption of innocence until proven guilty. A fair trial, with access to attorneys of their choice and the right to study what is considered evidence against them. More contact with their families whom they probably worry are worrying about themselves!"

Finally, according to 44-year-old JB Miller, "Nobody should be holding people for PURELY POLITICAL GAMESMANSHIP PURPOSES" and yet, this is exactly what the DPRK seems to be doing.