An Emotional Return

After a 20 hour visit between former president Bill Clinton and the North Korean government, American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee were finally freed and returned home yesterday after months of imprisonment for illegally entering North Korean territory. They were sentenced to 12 years in a labor camp for their actions but were pardoned due to Bill Clinton's intervention. Yesterday they finally returned back to America and to an emotional family reunion.
I have to say when I saw these photos, I teared up a little. It's amazing what former president Clinton did in efforts to bring these ladies home. I can't even begin to fathom what they have experienced being imprisoned in a communist country like North Korea. I'm sure they were terrified of what would happen next. Thankfully what would happen next is a safe return to their family and friends and of course the greatest gift of all...freedom. This is definitely a reminder that journalists constantly put their lives on the line in order to report and deliver awareness about the universal issues that effect us.

Just as important as the return of journalists Ling and Lee, is also the fact that this experience will hopefully creates a new platform for resolutions between the United States and North Korea. It's been reported by the New York Times that president Clinton and North Korean leader, KimJong-il dined together after the resolution for the Ling and Lee in efforts to "open a diplomatic channel" between the two countries. Let's hope there will be peace among us finally.