The White House reacted Monday to the sentencing of Laura Ling and Euna Lee, with spokesman Bill Burton telling reporters "the president is deeply concerned by the reported sentencing of the two American citizen journalists by North Korean authorities, and we are engaged through all possible channels to secure their release."

Also, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a former UN ambassador who undertook delicate international negotiations during the Clinton Administration, said he has been contacted by the White House for advice. He called the situation "a high-stakes poker game" and said now that the legal process has run its course, "the good news is, I believe, is that negotiations can now begin." He also called it a good thing that North Korea did not level espionage charges against the reporters.