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Obama hails journalists' release from DPRK

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-08-05 22:23

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama proclaimed the US government "extraordinarily relieved" Wednesday over the release of two American journalists and praised former President Bill Clinton and former Vice President Al Gore for their roles.

US President Barack Obama talks in Washington, about the two US journalists freed from Pyongyang, August 5, 2009. [Agencies]

Speaking on the White House lawn just before leaving on a trip to Indiana, Obama said, "The reunion we've all seen on television, I think, is a source of happiness not only for the families but also for the entire country."

Obama made no mention of the overall tense relationship between Washington and Pyongyang, and he said that "all Americans should be grateful to both former President Clinton and Vice President Gore for their extraordinary work."

Obama said that he had spoken with the families of Laura Ling and Euna Ling once the pair was safely on aboard Clinton's private jet en route to the United States from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). He also said he had spoken with the former president.

Speaking to reporters earlier, press secretary Robert Gibbs had said the former president would brief Obama's national security team at some point on what transpired during his high-level meeting with Kim Jong-il, leader of the DPRK, as a private envoy representing the United States.

At the same time, Gibbs reiterated that the former president did not carry a message from Obama to Kim. "If there wasn't a message, there certainly couldn't have been an apology," the spokesman said.

Related readings:  Hillary Clinton reiterates call for DPRK talks  Hillary Clinton: Reporters 'excited' to come home  Journalists leave Pyongyang aboard Clinton's plane  DPRK releases two American journalists  Clinton meets two US journalists detained in DPRK

Clinton arrived at a Los Angeles area airport earlier Wednesday with the two freed journalists. In a statement released by his New York office, he said he was "very happy" that the release could be worked out with the leaders of the DPRK.

Clinton called their plight a "long ordeal," and said he was gratified that they "are now home and reunited with their loved ones."

The former president said that he shared "a deep sense of relief with Laura and Euna and their families that they are safely home."