Mission Accomplished: Clinton Leaves North Korea With Pardoned Journalists

In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, American journalists Laura Ling, left, and Euna Lee, second right, walk to a chartered plane at an airport in Pyongyang, North Korea on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2009.

(AP Photo/Xinhua, Zhang Binyang)

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton greets U.S. journalists Laura Ling (in green) and Euna Lee (in red) as they board a chartered plane at an airport in Pyongyang August 5, 2009 in this photo released by China's official Xinhua News Agency. North Korea said on Wednesday it had pardoned the two jailed American journalists after Clinton met the reclusive state's leader Kim Jong-il, a move some analysts said could pave the way to direct nuclear disarmament talks. (REUTERS/Xinhua/Zhang Binyang)

Bill Clinton has left North Korea with the two pardoned American journalists, a spokesman for the former president said Tuesday."President Clinton has safely left North Korea with Laura Ling and Euna Lee," Clinton spokesman Matt McKenna said in a statement. "They are en route to Los Angeles where Laura and Euna will be reunited with their families..."
--Statement From Families of Laura Ling and Euna Lee