More terrible news broke out of North Korea overnight where the murderous regime detained another American on questionable charges. Every one of the Big Three Networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC) reported on the development Monday morning. Sadly both CBS and NBC decided to move on from the story come evening. For CBS Evening News, they decided it wasn’t worth the time. But they did find time for a report highlighting anti-U.S. protests.
“Voters in South Korea are choosing a new president,” announced Anchor Scott Pelley. “One of the front-runners in the race opposes the missile defense system that the United States just installed there to stop a North Korean attack.”
He handed it off to Adriana Diaz, who start off her report with a clip of a South Korean protester yelling “U.S. military keep out!” She also interviewed a man who claimed it was a problem for the whole world. “THAAD is not problem of this village. It's a problem of Korean peninsula. It's the problem of world peace,” the unidentified man told her.
According to Diaz, “Protesters were out in force again to stop any vehicle headed to the controversial U.S. anti-missile system called THAAD, that was installed here in the middle of the night two weeks ago.” She said that they oppose the defense system because they claim “it will only increase the threat of war.” But the system is designed to shoot down incoming missiles, which could possibly be armed with a nuclear warhead.
“Liberal candidate Moon Jae-In, who opposes THAAD, has surged in the polls and says South Korea must learn how to say no to America. Moon also argues that sanctions aren't enough to stop the North,” Diaz reported.
A man named Ahn Cheol-Soo is the opponent of the “liberal candidate.” Diaz drew parallels between Ahn and Trump, noting that “He, like President Donald Trump, went to the Wharton business school in Pennsylvania, and says that would allow him to build a rapport with Mr. Trump.” She also seemed to chide his support for the defense system, saying: “Ahn initially a posed THAAD but now favors it, a reversal most consider a bid to attract conservative voters. The next 24 hours will see if he's right.”
As for reporting on the American detained by North Korean officials, ABC’s World News Tonight was the only network to bring it up Monday evening. While NBC appeared to lose interest in the story, ABC Anchor David Muir reported that:
Overseas tonight, North Korea in a new act of provocation taking another American into custody. North Korean media reports that Kim Hak-Song has been detained on suspicion of, quote, “hostile acts.” He was doing agricultural work at a university in Pyongyang. Another American teacher at that university was detained last week. At least four Americans are now being held by the North Korean regime.
CBS has been the only network so far to cover these recent anti-THAAD/U.S. protests.
Transcripts below:
CBS Evening News
May 8, 2017
6:42:28 PM EasternSCOTT PELLEY: Voters in South Korea are choosing a new president. Former President Park Geun-Hye is in jail facing corruption charges. One of the front-runners in the race opposes the missile defense system that the United States just installed there to stop a North Korean attack. Adriana Diaz is in Seoul.
[Cuts to video]
PROTESTER: U.S. military keep out!
ADRIANA DIAZ: Protesters were out in force again to stop any vehicle headed to the controversial U.S. anti-missile system called THAAD, that was installed here in the middle of the night two weeks ago. "We're blocking this road," said this man, "To make sure this van isn't carrying supplies for THAAD." They oppose the U.S. system because they fear it will only increase the threat of war. As North Korea continues to bully the region with its missile program. Protests against THAAD and the U.S. have now become a key part of the election.
Liberal candidate Moon Jae-In, who opposes THAAD, has surged in the polls and says South Korea must learn how to say no to America. Moon also argues that sanctions aren't enough to stop the North.
His main opponent, Ahn Cheol-Soo, is a doctor, who made his fortune as a software mogul before entering politics. He, like President Donald Trump, went to the Wharton business school in Pennsylvania, and says that would allow him to build a rapport with Mr. Trump. Ahn initially a posed THAAD but now favors it, a reversal most consider a bid to attract conservative voters. The next 24 hours will see if he's right.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: THAAD is not problem of this village. It's a problem of Korean peninsula. It's the problem of world peace.
[Cuts back to live]
DIAZ: No matter who wins, Scott, the U.S. may find itself on the back foot, both leading candidates favor talking to North Korea over the U.S.-led effort to further isolate it.
PELLEY: Adriana Diaz for us tonight. Adriana, thank you.
...
ABC
World News Tonight
May 8, 2017
6:42:37 PM EasternDAVID MUIR: Overseas tonight, North Korea in a new act of provocation taking another American into custody. North Korean media reports that Kim Hak-Song has been detained on suspicion of, quote, “hostile acts.” He was doing agricultural work at a university in Pyongyang. Another American teacher at that university was detained last week. At least four Americans are now being held by the North Korean regime.
