Two American journalists are back home in California after five months of detainment in North Korea. They were reunited with family and friends at dawn on Wednesday at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, California.
The release was a result of former President Bill Clinton’s visit with communist leader Kim Jong Il on Tuesday. Clinton returned to the United States with the two women.
"I am very happy that after this long ordeal, Laura Ling and Euna Lee are now home and reunited with their loved ones,” said Clinton in a statement.
“When their families, Vice President Gore and the White House asked that I undertake this humanitarian mission, I agreed. I share a deep sense of relief with Laura and Euna and their families that they are safely home."
Both Euna Lee and Laura Ling are American citizens and reporters for Clinton’s former Vice President Al Gore’s San Francisco-based Current TV. Gore was among the greeting party at the airport.
“Thirty hours ago, Euna Lee and I were prisoners in North Korea,” said Ling in tears, standing beside Lee just after deplaning. “We feared that at any moment, we could be sent to a hard labor camp. And then, suddenly we were told that we were going to a meeting. We were taken to a location and when we walked in through the doors, we saw standing before us, President Bill Clinton.
“We were shocked, but we knew instantly in our hearts that the nightmare of our lives is finally coming to an end. And now we stand here—home and free.
“Euna and I would just like to express our deepest gratitude to President Clinton and his wonderful, amazing, not to mention super cool team.”
Ling then gave thanks to a list of family members, colleagues, friends, officials and “complete strangers,” who showed “kindness of hearts.”
“We could feel your love all the way in North Korea,” said Ling. “It is what kept us going in the darkest hours and what sustained our faith that we would come home.”
Earlier in March, the duo was arrested along the China-North Korea border while documenting human rights abuses against North Korea women. On June 8, they were both sentenced to 12 years in prison. They are the first American journalists to have been arrested at the China-North Korea border according to Lucie Morillon, director for RSF Washington, D.C., in an interview in June.
Upon arrival, Lee, 36, was first greeted by a big family hug from her husband Michael Saldage and four-year-old daughter, Hana. While Ling, 32, was crowded between her husband Iain Clayton, her sister, Lisa Ling and mother, Mary Ling.
Gore said to Lee and Ling, “I want you all to know. Your families have been unbelievable, passionate, involved, committed, innovative.”
"Hana's been a great girl while you were gone," he told Lee. "And Laura, your mom's been making your special soup for two days now."
Early Wednesday morning, President Barack Obama made a brief statement at the South Lawn at the White House regarding the release of the two journalists.
“We are obviously extraordinarily relieved. I had an opportunity to speak with the families yesterday once we knew that they were on the plane,” he said.
“The reunion that we've all seen on television I think is a source of happiness not only for the families but for the entire country.”
He then expressed gratitude toward Clinton for his “extraordinary humanitarian effort” and Gore for his continuous effort.
“And my hope is, is that the families that have been reunited can enjoy the next several days and weeks, understanding that because of the efforts of President Clinton and Gore, they are able to be with each other once again,” he said.
