By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

SEOUL, South Korea – Two American journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, have been released by North Korea after former U.S. President Bill Clinton made an unannounced visit to North Korea to negotiate the journalists’ release. 

Laura Ling and Euna Lee leaving North Korea (Source: APTN)

Clinton met with top North Korean officials, and “expressed words of sincere apology to Kim Jong Il for the hostile acts committed by the two American journalists against the DPRK after illegally intruding into it.”  North Korean leader Kim Jong Il then issued an order which granted special pardons to the two American journalists from their 12-year labor camp sentences. 

North Korean News Agency (NKNA) announced that the pardon was “a manifestation of the DPRK’s humanitarian and peace-loving policy,” adding that Clinton’s visit “will contribute to deepening the understanding between the DPRK and the U.S. and building the bilateral confidence.”  NKNA also said Clinton apologized on behalf of the women and relayed President Barack Obama’s gratitude.

The two journalists were arrested back in March while working near the border between North Korea and China.  Thereafter, they were sentenced in June on charges of entering the country illegally.  Since then, the U.S. has been working on their release through Sweden since the U.S. and North Korea do not have diplomatic relations.  The U.S. State Department was also working with the North Korean Mission to the UN for the journalists’ release by asking that North Korea grant the women amnesty.

The families of Ling and Lee are “overjoyed” by the news of the pardon.  They have posted a statement on their website thanking Clinton, the U.S. State Department and President Obama for their efforts in getting the two women released.  Ling’s father, Doug Ling, described today as “one of the best days in my life” after hearing that his daughter has been released.

The two journalists flew out of North Korea with Clinton and are en route to Los Angeles where they will be reunited with their families.

For more information, please see:

BBC – North Korea pardons US reporters – 4 August 2009

CNN – U.S. journalists head home from North Korea – 4 August 2009

MSNBC – North Korea frees 2 jailed U.S. journalists – 4 August 2009