两名美国记者在北韩被关押近五个月后返回美国。凌志美和李云娜在美国前总统克林顿陪同下星期三抵达加州的伯班克机场。此前，前总统克林顿前往平壤，会晤了北韩领导人金正日，促成了这两位记者获释。凌志美、李云娜和克林顿走下飞机时，受到热烈的欢迎。奥巴马总统说，两名记者获释让他倍感宽慰。
凌志美和李云娜今年3月被逮捕。北韩的一家法庭控告她们从中国边界非法进入北韩，从事针对北韩的所谓“敌对活动”，随后判处她们12年劳改。北韩官方媒体说，金正日在会见克林顿并接受对两位记者行为的“真诚道歉”后特赦了凌志美和李云娜。克林顿的夫人、美国国务卿希拉里.克林顿在肯尼亚首都内罗毕向记者否认前总统克林顿为凌志美和李云娜表示道歉。
Two U.S. journalists who were held for nearly five months in North Korea are back in the United States, after former President Bill Clinton secured their release. A plane carrying Laura Ling, Euna Lee and former President Clinton arrived in Burbank, California Wednesday. Mr. Clinton had flown to Pyongyang and met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.The journalists and the former president were greeted by cheers when they stepped off the plane. President Barack Obama said he is “extraordinarily relieved” over the release.
North Korea arrested Ling and Lee in March. A court later sentenced them to 12 years of hard labor for illegally crossing the border from China and committing “hostile acts.”
North Korean state media say Mr. Kim pardoned the women after meeting with Mr. Clinton and receiving a “sincere apology” for their actions.U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the former president’s wife, speaking in Nairobi, Kenya, denied that her husband apologized for Lee and Ling.