Freed U.S. Journalists Laura Ling & Euna Lee To Arrive in Burbank, CA. Wednesday Morning After Bill Clinton Negotiates Release
Aug. 5 2009, Published 11:53 a.m. ET
Update: 5:50am PDT - The plane has landed on U.S. soil.
TV host Lisa Ling’s sister Laura and fellow journalist Euna Lee are expected to land at the airport in Burbank, California at 5:30am local time Wednesday.
The two are currently flying back to the United States from North Korea after former President Bill Clinton was able to negotiate their release Tuesday. In June, the two were sentenced to 12 years in a labor camp after being convicted of entering the country illegally while reporting a story.
Ling and Lee were both reporters for Al Gore's Current TV at the time of their arrest. Their reprieve came from North Korean President Kim Jong II shortly after he met with Clinton.
Clinton, the Ling sisters and Laura's colleague Euna Lee are all headed back to the US, where the Ling family is ecstatic to embrace their chlidren.
"We are counting the seconds to hold Laura and Euna in our arms," the Ling family said in a statement.
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A large crowd has gathered at the airport in Burbank to welcome them home. Al Gore is among those expected to be on hand for the celebration.
It’s a 12-hour flight from North Korea to Burbank, with the plane making a stopover in Japan for refueling.