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Statement by the President on the release of Laura Ling and Euna Lee

For Immediate Release August 5, 2009

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE RELEASE OF LAURA LING AND EUNA LEE

South Lawn
9:37 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning, everybody. I want to just make a brief comment about the fact that the two young journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling, are safely back with their families. We are obviously extraordinarily relieved. I had an opportunity to speak with the families yesterday once we knew that they were on the plane.

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.

I want to thank President Bill Clinton — I had a chance to talk to him — for the extraordinary humanitarian effort that resulted in the release of the two journalists. I want to thank Vice President Al Gore who worked tirelessly in order to achieve a positive outcome.

I think that not only is this White House obviously extraordinarily happy, but all Americans should be grateful to both former President Clinton and Vice President Gore for their extraordinary work. 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.

So we are very pleased with the outcome, and I’m hopeful that the families are going to be able to get some good time together in the next few days.

Thank you very much.

August 5, 2009
Categories: Laura Ling and Euna Lee . Tags: Asia/Pacific, Bill Clinton, Diplomacy, Politics, President Obama, Press Freedom . Author: Lia Chang . Comments: Leave a Comment

Kim Jong-il has granted a special pardon to detained journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee by Lia Chang

this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, the two female American journalists, far left, and second right, head to a chartered plane carrying the homebound former President Bill Clinton at an airport in Pyongyang, capital of North Korea Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2009. His mission accomplished, former President Bill Clinton left Pyongyang early Wednesday accompanied by American journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling after North Korean leader Kim Jong Il pardoned the women from their 12-year prison sentences. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Zhang Binyang)

Today is the day we have all been waiting for, detained journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee have been granted a special pardon by Kim Jong-il, due to the diplomatic tact of Ex-President Bill Clinton’s surprise visit to Pyongyang.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton greets U.S. journalists Laura Ling (in green) and Euna Lee (in red) as they board a chartered plane at an airport in Pyongyang August 5, 2009 in this photo released by China's official Xinhua News Agency. North Korea said on Wednesday it had pardoned the two jailed American journalists after Clinton met the reclusive state's leader Kim Jong-il, a move some analysts said could pave the way to direct nuclear disarmament talks. REUTERS/Xinhua/Zhang Binyang

American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee were detained in North Korea while on assignment for San Francisco-based Current TV – a media venture founded by former Vice President Al Gore on March 17, while they were shooting video along the China/North Korea border for a story they were working on about the trafficking of women in the region. They were stopped by North Korean border guards and arrested immediately thereafter. Both women were transported to Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, where they remained under arrest until their trial.

Their verdict in a closed trial was reached on June 8, and both women were sentenced to 12 years of reform through labor for illegal entry and grave crimes against the North Korean state.

Since the sentencing, the families have received calls, and during the second call in July, Laura told her sister Lisa Ling that she and Euna did violate North Korean law and confessed to all of the charges levied against them. They expressed deep regret for their actions and asked for continued support from our country and its citizens for their amnesty.

In a surprise move, ex-President Bill Clinton flew to Pyongyang yesterday, on a private humanitarian mission, to secure the release of Laura Ling and Euna Lee.

At the airport, he was greeted by Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, and Kim Kye Gwan, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs.

He subsequently sat down with Kim Jong-il, who has now granted a special pardon to the two American journalists. Thanks Mr. Clinton. We look forward to seeing Laura and Euna soon.

Click hereReuters: North Korea’s Kim releases U.S. journalists: report
Tue Aug 4, 2009 3:21pm EDT for the full report on reuters.com.

7:34am EDT
LONDON (Reuters) – North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has granted a “special pardon” to two jailed U.S. journalists which releases them from detention, the official KCNA news agency reported on Tuesday.

“Kim Jong-il issued an order of the chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission on granting a special pardon to the two American journalists who had been sentenced to hard labor in accordance with Article 103 of the Socialist Constitution and releasing them,” KCNA said in a statement which carried a Pyongyang dateline.

Check out the website www.lauraandeuna.com, created by the families of Laura Ling and Euna Lee.

August 4, 2009
Categories: Laura Ling and Euna Lee, Politics . Tags: Asia/Pacific, Bill Clinton, Diplomacy, Kim Jong-il, Lia Chang, Politics, Press Freedom . Author: Lia Chang . Comments: Leave a Comment

KCNA Report: Bill Clinton has arrived in Pyongyang

Signs at a vigil in New York for journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee, who have been by sentenced by North Korea to 12 years hard labor in prison. Photo by Lia Chang

It is almost five months since American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee were detained in North Korea, while on assignment for San Francisco-based Current TV – a media venture founded by former Vice President Al Gore. On March 17, they were shooting video along the China/North Korea border for a story they were working on about the trafficking of women in the region. They were stopped by North Korean border guards and arrested immediately thereafter. Both women were transported to Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, where they remained under arrest until their trial.

Their verdict in a closed trial was reached on June 8, and both women were sentenced to 12 years of reform through labor for illegal entry and grave crimes against the North Korean state.

Today, the Korean Central New Agency (KCNA) reports that Bill Clinton has arrived in Pyongyang.

He was greeted by Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, and Kim Kye Gwan, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs.

Clinton is in Pyongyang on a humanitarian mission to secure the release of Laura Ling and Euna Lee, and bring them home.

Sign this petition to help bring Laura Ling and Euna Lee home.

Check out the website www.lauraandeuna.com, created by the families of Laura Ling and Euna Lee, to see how you can help to secure amnesty for the two women and help bring them home.

August 4, 2009
Categories: Laura Ling and Euna Lee . Tags: Asia/Pacific, Bill Clinton, Diplomacy, Lia Chang, Politics, Press Freedom . Author: Lia Chang . Comments: Leave a Comment

Lia Chang

Statement by the President on the release of Laura Ling and Euna Lee

Kim Jong-il has granted a special pardon to detained journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee by Lia Chang

KCNA Report: Bill Clinton has arrived in Pyongyang

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