{
  "id": 7503095,
  "title": "James Laney: The man who saw the bridge built",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/james-laney-the-man-who-saw-the-bridge-built",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-15T08:02:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/opinion/20260915/james-laney-the-man-who-saw-the-bridge-built"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "James T. Laney, once the U.S. ambassador to Korea under President Bill Clinton's first administration, played a crucial role in averting a potential war during the 1994 nuclear crisis. He advised Washington on the matter and recommended former President Jimmy Carter to visit Pyongyang and meet with Kim Il Sung. Laney passed away in August at the age of 98. However, before his demise, he shared his insights from nearly eight decades of devoted friendship with Korea. In March, Laney received the \"Building Bridges Award\" from the Pacific Century Institute in Los Angeles. He shared his perspective on the transformative two-way bridge that Koreans and Americans constructed over the years. Laney's ambassadorship was his third extended stay in Korea. He arrived for the first time as a 19-year-old soldier in 1947, serving in counterintelligence alongside Korean comrades. He formed a deep admiration for the resilience and intelligence of a nation striving to rebuild itself from the aftermath of colonialism and the communist threat.",
  "summary": "James T. Laney, the U.S. ambassador to Korea during President Bill Clinton’s first term, is widely credited with helping prevent war during the 1994 North Korean nuclear crisis by giving strong advice to Washington and suggesting to former President Jimmy Carter that he go to Pyongyang and meet personally with Kim Il Sung. Laney died in August at the age of 98. Luckily for us, before he died, he…",
  "key_points": [
    "James Laney, former U.S. ambassador to Korea, averted nuclear crisis in 1994",
    "Advised Washington to invite Jimmy Carter for meeting with Kim Il Sung",
    "Received Building Bridges Award for Korea-US friendship"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "James Laney: The man who saw the bridge built",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/james-laney-the-man-who-saw-the-bridge-built-7508238",
        "published": "2026-09-15T08:32:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}