We issued the following statement in response to reports today from the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) that imprisoned U.S. journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling have been pardoned and will be released:
“We welcome the news that Euna Lee and Laura Ling will be pardoned and released after more than four months in detention,” said CPJ Deputy Director Robert Mahoney. “This has been a long and complex process given the situation on the Korean peninsula. We thank former President Clinton for his intervention and we are grateful that the North Korean authorities have responded to appeals for clemency. We know that the families of these two reporters will be relieved to have their loved ones back home.”