{
  "id": 7508238,
  "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",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-15T08:32:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/opinion/20260915/james-laney-the-man-who-saw-the-bridge-built"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "James T. Laney, the U.S. ambassador to Korea during President Bill Clinton's first term, played a crucial role in averting war during the 1994 North Korean nuclear crisis. He advised the U.S. government and suggested former President Jimmy Carter visit Pyongyang to meet Kim Il Sung in person. Laney, who passed away at the age of 98, shared his extensive knowledge and perspectives at the \"Building Bridges Award\" ceremony in March. He accepted the award from the Pacific Century Institute in Los Angeles, reflecting on the decades-long friendship between Koreans and Americans. Laney's ambassadorship was his third prolonged stay in Korea, having served as a young 19-year-old soldier in 1947. He admired the resilience and intelligence of Koreans, who were rebuilding their nation after the ravages of colonialism and the Cold War.",
  "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": [],
  "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",
        "published": "2026-09-15T08:02:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}