All too often the reporting regarding countries such as North Korea and Iran are from a 'narcisstic' point of view in regard to the damage that can be done to the USA/Allies/World by them.
I have in the past attempted to focus on the relationship of the government within these countries to their populous. We cannot pass judgement on the happiness of the people, but, we can be concerned about their well being and human rights.
By focusing on the people of these countries, their relationship with their government and how that interprets to a relationships with the global populous brings a 'humanized' approach to the 'image' of such countries.
All too often, we 'stigmatize' them in order to consider them an enemy. When, in fact, it is the people of these nations that are striving to change their relationship with the world. The most profound example of that is the reporting coming out of Iran regarding the anticipated elections. I have never heard such good news in all my life regarding the possibility of the return to sanity by the leadership of Iran.
I also believe if the media focus is removed from the two American journalists held in North Korea they will be safer. I am confident, human rights organizations are involved in North Korea regarding the prisons and if not perhaps that should be a focus for the USA State Department. The point is, if we are to conduct public discussions regarding the nuclear capacity of North Korea it cannot include 'dangling' American Journalists for public display as if a 'carrot and stick' to the Six Party Talks (If they ever return to Six Party Talks.).
The two issues are not intertwined and the more North Korea realizes any grandstanding over the American Journalists are mute, there might be more movement to free them to their own government as they are not guilty in acting as any type of government agent.
