Current Event American Released from North Korea Elise Labott, CNN Global Affairs Correspondent Oct. 21 st, 2014 Bryanna Canales Background: North Korea Communist Censorship Government control in everyday life Individual rights and freedoms taken away Adherence to collective norm s Dependent on economic aid Money spent on military Totalitarian State often accused of abusing Human Rights Torture Public executions Slave labor Forced abortions prison camps Captives held in North Korea Article Summary Jeffery Fowle was released from North Korea He acted contrary to the purpose of tourism by leaving his bible in his hotel The totalitarian regime forbids independent religious activities They see it as a threat to authority He was detained May 7 th and picked up by the US government Oct 21 st Admitted guilty and asked for forgiveness International Relations- Swedish government There are still two other Americans that are being held hostage after months The U.S. is demanding release of them 3 Americans Held Captive Detained- Nov sentenced to 15 years of hard labor April 10 th, ripped up his visa and said he was seeking asylum in North Korea Importance? This affects the safety of travelling foreigners in North Korea. This can happen to any other country, which is why the world should pay attention to it. The U.S. does not want to create more tension between them and North Korea Analysts say North Korea has previously used detained Americans as leverage in its standoff with the U.S. over its nuclear and missile programs Some speculate this as being North Korea opening up a bit to restart nuclear negotiations with the U.S. Critique Strengths: Good background information Many sources Victims and American Representatives Weaknesses: Quotes over powered the article and explanation of the event Discussion To what extent should individual rights and freedoms, private property, and other classical liberal principles be protected when travelling abroad? To what extent should North Koreas totalitarian regime be respected? What is America willing to do in order to free its citizens? How should other world powers get involved? Should America halt humanitarian efforts in North Korea? Sourceskorea/ korea/ north-korea/index.html?hpt=wo_c1north-korea/index.html?hpt=wo_c1