World

Freed Journalists Reunite With Family, Tearfully Thank Clinton

by Tina Kells | August 5, 2009 at 08:38 am

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Freed journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee tearfully reunited with family and expressed a heartfelt thanks to former US President Bill Clinton when they arrived via Steven Bing's private jet at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, California.

Among the most touching moments of the family reunion was the reaction of Euna Lee's 4-year old daughter Hannah when she saw her mother. The little girl ran to her mother and refused to let go as both freed journalists faced the press.

On June 7, 2009 Ling, 32 and Lee, 36 were sentenced to 12 years of hard labor in a North Korean prison on charges that they entered the country illegally and engaged in subversive activities against the government of Kim Jong-il. The two women are journalists for Al Gore's California-based media company, Current TV.

Al Gore was at the airport to meet Lisa Ling and Euna Lee and also spoke with reporters. He expressed gratitude to Bill Clinton for his successful humanitarian efforts and praised the efforts of the Obama administration. Bill Clinton stepped off the plane shortly after Ling and Lee but did not speak to the press.

"We were taken to a location, and when we walked through the doors, we saw standing before us President Bill Clinton," Ling said with Lee standing beside her.

"We were shocked, but we knew instantly in our hearts that the nightmare of our lives was finally coming to an end."

She expressed her and Lee's "deepest gratitude" to Clinton and his "wonderful, amazing" team. Watch as Ling says, "We could feel your love" »

"The past 140 days have been the most difficult, heart-wrenching time of our lives," Ling said. "We are very grateful that we were granted amnesty by the government of North Korea, and we are so happy to be home."

She said that she and Lee are looking forward to spending "some quiet, private time" with their families.