“We are counting the seconds to hold Laura and Euna in our arms.”
– the families of Laura Ling and Euna Lee, on lauraandeuna.com, after North Korean President Kim Jong Il pardoned the two U.S. journalists and ordered their release. The North Korean government portrayed Bill Clinton’s visit and negotiations for their freedom as a U.S. government-directed “sincere apology to Kim Jong Il for the hostile acts committed by the two American journalists.” The Obama Administration countered, insisting that it’s a “solely private mission” by the former President. The two women are reporters at Current TV, Al Gore’s cable venture, and had been sentenced in June to 12 years in prison. Justice for all, at last.