Why did N. Korea put the two Americans on trial vs holding them without a trial like the Bush admin does?

They wanted to show the world their "power" and put America in a sticky situation where it would be difficult for the Americans to do anything to save them.

Trials are very different things in the DPRK than in the USA. In the USA, a trial requires actual evidence of a crime, the defendent has rights, and most of it is generally a matter of public record. In the DPRK, the party just makes whatever charges it wishes, and finds the defendent guilty. In this case, it was to use the victims as leverage in negotiating with the new American Administration.

Because N Korea was were able to have a totally secret trial with no public record of it. The Bush admin, although dictatorial as hell, just couldn't pull off such a stunt, so the best they could do was not have trials.

Ok, I'm going to explain this using parts of the constitution. Please read all three of the sections below and you will see where Bush got the power to not try the POW's and to water board them. Believe it or not, water boarding is constitutional.

Article 1 / Section 8 / Clause 1

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the COMMON DEFENSE and GENERAL WELFARE of the United States; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

Article 1 / Section 8 / Clause 11

To DECLARE WAR, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and MAKE RULES CONCERNING CAPTURES ON LAND AND WATER;

Article 1 / Section 8 / Clause 18

To make all laws which shall be NECESSARY AND PROPER for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof.

Trial in North Korea means somebody reads the accusation and the defendant is taken away. They are very efficient in Pyongyang courts.

You mean did. Like the Bush administration did? Why because Kim Yong or whatever his name is could plainly see that this is what would irk the Obama administration the most. He knew full well that the journalists were simply incapable of say piloting an airliner in to a sky scraper, killing thousands of innocent people.

I guess N Korea follows the law and Bush doesn't.

Well stated

The Bush Administration does that?

Hello, Earth to Chi ... The Bush administration ended in January.

I am certain they got a really fair trial.

And are they going to get ethnically correct meals during their hard labor like the Gitmo detainees

OH that right the Gitmo detainee do not have to do hard labor