Obama pleased by two journalists' return

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Laura Ling (R, Back) and Euna Lee (1st L), two freed U.S. journalists, are embraced by their family members after arrive at the airport in Burbank , California, August 5 , 2009.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama said Wednesday that his administration was "extraordinarily relieved" that two American journalists freed by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) have safely returned to the United States.
"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," President Obama told reporters in the White House on Wednesday morning, hours after a plane carrying former President Bill Clinton and Laura Ling and Euna Lee arrived in Burbank, California.
"We are very pleased with the outcome," Obama said.
The two journalists, who worked for the San Francisco-based Current TV co-founded by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, were arrested March 17 for illegally crossing the DPRK border from China and in June were sentenced to 12 years of hard labor.
Following Clinton's 20-hour private visit to the DPRK and a high-profile meeting with the country's top leader Kim Jong Il, the two journalists were released by the DPRK.
According to the DPRK's official news agency KCNA, Kim and Clinton discussed improving bilateral relations. White House officials insisted, however, that Clinton did not discuss any issues beyond the journalists' release.