2 American Journalist Who Were Sentenced To 12 Years Hard Labor in North Korea; Freed With The Help of Bill Clinton

Associated Press

North Korea frees 2 jailed U.S. journalists
Announcement of pardon comes after Bill Clinton meets with Kim Jong Il
Image: American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee
APTN
Freed American journalists Laura Ling, left, and Euna Lee, shown in a screen capture image from video with an unidentified companion, board a plane to leave North Korea on Tuesday.
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updated 12:03 a.m. ET, Wed., Aug 5, 2009

SEOUL, South Korea - Former President Bill Clinton brought two freed U.S. journalists out of North Korea early Wednesday following rare talks with reclusive leader Kim Jong Il, who pardoned the women sentenced to hard labor for entering the country illegally.

Euna Lee and Laura Ling were heading back to the U.S. with Clinton, his spokesman Matt McKenna said, less than 24 hours after the former U.S. leader landed in the North Korean capital on a private, humanitarian trip to secure their release.

The women, dressed in short-sleeved shirts and jeans, appeared healthy as they climbed the steps to the plane and shook hands with Clinton before getting into the jet, APTN footage in Pyongyang showed. Clinton waved, put his hand over his heart and then saluted.
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North Korean officials waved as the plane took off. McKenna said the flight was bound for Los Angeles, where the journalists will be reunited with their families. The White House had no comment.