As you know, I have been to North Korea 3 times and at no time did the USA object to me going. Nor did the State Department object to us ‘going live’ with a segment of ON THE RECORD at 10pm from Pyongyang.
We went as journalists and as part of Reverend Franklin Graham’s (and Samaritan’s Purse’s) humanitarian projects in that nation for the impoverished people.
No one in North Korea ever thought I was representing the US Government (of course I was not) and I am not a former Government official which might send the wrong message to the officials in North Korea.
Do you think Governor Richardson and Mr. Schmidt should go to North Korea in light of the fact that the State Department is opposed to their trip?
(PS I took the pic on this posting on one of our 3 OTR trips to North Korea.)
U.S. raps Richardson, Schmidt over North Korea visit
The unusual, attention-grabbing trip former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson and Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt are reportedly planning to North Korea later this month is going forward against the wishes of the U.S. Government, a State Department official said Thursday.
“Frankly, we don’t think the timing of this is particularly helpful, but they are private citizens and they are making their own decisions,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters at a regular news briefing. “They are well aware of the U.S Government’s view on this,” she added.
“They are private citizens. They are traveling in an unofficial capacity they are not going to be accompanied by any U.S. officials. They are not carrying any messages from us,” Nuland said.
