Welcome Home

Yesterday, Deeky mentioned that US journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee had come home after being held for months by North Korea. Following are (warning: blub-inducing) images of their emotional homecoming.

Freed U.S. journalists Laura Ling (top left) embraces her husband Iain Clayton while fellow freed journalist Euna Lee (bottom left) is hugged by her husband Michael Saldate and daughter Hana Saldate in Burbank, California August 5, 2009. Ling and Lee were freed from North Korea after being held there since March, 2009.

American journalists Laura Ling (top) and Euna Lee disembark from the plane that brought them back from North Korea in Burbank, California August 5, 2009. Former President Bill Clinton met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il to release the two women after months of detention.

Former U.S. Vice-President Al Gore hugs freed U.S. journalist Laura Ling (R). Ling and Lee are reporters for American cable television venture Current TV co-founded by Gore.

Freed American journalist Euna Lee hugs former U.S. Vice-President Al Gore (R) while holding her daughter Hana as her husband Michael Saldate (rear, L) looks on.

"Thirty hours ago, Euna Lee and I were prisoners in North Korea," Ms. Ling said in brief remarks to reporters, blinking back tears. "We feared that at any moment we could be prisoners in a hard labor camp. Then suddenly we were told that we were going to a meeting.

"We were taken to a location and when we walked through the doors, we saw standing before us President Bill Clinton," she said, recounting the final moments of her ordeal. "We were shocked, but we knew instantly in our hearts that the nightmare of our lives was finally coming to an end. And now we stand here home and free." (link)

Welcome home, Ms. Ling. Welcome home, Ms. Lee.