Laura Ling's Sister: Reporter Touched North Korean Soil

LOS ANGELES — Laura Ling's sister says the two American journalists briefly touched North Korean soil before they were captured and detained for months in that communist country.

"She said that it was maybe 30 seconds and then everything got chaotic. It's a very powerful story, and she does want to share it," Lisa Ling told CNN Thursday.

A day after the reporters returned from Pyongyang on a private plane, Lisa Ling said her sister is still weak, exhausted and emotional.

Lisa Ling described how her sister clings to her family after months of isolation. She said she even went to a doctor's appointment with her sister, just to keep her company.

Lisa Ling said Euna Lee's husband told her that his 4-year-old daughter, Hana, spent all day following Lee around the house from room to room. At one point during her detention, Lee called and left a voicemail message saying how much she loved her daughter, Lisa Ling said.

"They could play it for Hana all the time. Of all of us, little Hana had the most confidence that she would be seeing her mom soon," Lisa Ling said.

Laura Ling told her family she was treated humanely, but meals were meager and her phone calls were monitored, Lisa Ling said.

"She had two guards in her room at all times, morning and night. And even though they couldn't speak to her, somehow they developed a strange sort of kinship, Lisa Ling said. "She had some really lovely things to say about the people who were watching over her."

The reporter passed her time in captivity reading, walking circles around her cell for exercise and planning when she would wash her hair, because water service was intermittent, Lisa Ling said.

At Laura Ling's house on a quiet residential street in the San Fernando Valley, a man who identified himself as her brother-in-law came to the door and said politely that she wasn't ready to speak about her ordeal yet.

Lisa Ling said her sister plans to write an editorial explaining what happened and how she was captured.

At the modest, two-story apartment building on the edge of Koreatown where Lee lives with her family, police cleared about a dozen reporters and photographers away from the driveway so she and her family could pull their car out. The three then drove away without speaking to reporters.

Lee, who sat in the front passenger seat, looked down and didn't make eye contact with the photographers, most of whom were from Korean-language media outlets.

Minutes after they drove away, a delivery service left a fruit basket for them.

Lee and Ling, reporters for former Vice President Al Gore's San Francisco-based Current TV, were working on a story about the trafficking of women when they were arrested in March. They were sentenced to 12 years of hard labor after being convicted of illegally entering North Korea.

Both were pardoned following talks between Clinton and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. They arrived at Burbank's Bob Hope Airport at dawn Wednesday for a jubilant reunion with family and friends.

Comments

[H321]

03:35 AM on 08/09/2009

So... what exactly was their assignment for Current TV? To sneak into North Korea?

[Feesister]

03:19 PM on 08/09/2009

Didn't you read the article?

[marirose]

01:02 AM on 08/09/2009

Get a grip, folks. Obviously they were unaware they were trespassing on NK's soil. A cover-up? Oh, pleez! You've really been following the story and know these women well - hah! Don't you think they need to say they were guilty so NK and KJI can save face? Doh! Learn a little about global dictators, eh? What is happening to journalists globally is a tragedy and not their gd fault. Give them a break and thank goodness they're home. Euna and Laura, please be well and take good care. I agree w/the poster who states getting trauma counseling for the two of you and Hana is a necessity. But I'm sure you are well aware of that. And for all who would dare think Euna is not a loving mother to Hana, you go spend almost 5 months in solitary confinement away from your intelligent, wonderful child and see if you don't miss her and want to spend every free moment with her upon your return. Fools!

[Blup]

08:00 PM on 08/10/2009

Mmm, I lived in China just 2 hours from the North Korean border and have traveled into North Korea. The border is very well demarcated and it would be difficult, if not impossible, to be "unaware" that one has crossed the boarder into North Korea. In fact, much of the border between China and North Korea is divided by a river. There is a fairly large population of North Koreans who live in the Liaoning Province of China, just across the boarder from North Korea. Although I am just speculating, my guess would be that Euna and Laura, along with a North Korean they met in China, were either trying to bribe their way past the North Korean security guards (which is one common way in which many North Koreans get out of the country) or perhaps wished to interview a North Korean living within North Korean at the border and tried to get beyond North Korean security to do so. All in all, it's good that they are back home safely.

[LB14]

07:41 PM on 08/08/2009

I knew Bill Clinton would get the job done when he was told he would be able to take two women home [rimshot]

[ESerafina42]

12:46 AM on 08/08/2009

Interesting how many people here are willing to justify Kim Jong Il's behavior, and a lot of them were probably the same ones who were whining that Bill Clinton's trip was "legitimizing a dictator."

Nobody deserves what these women went through. Nobody.

[ThreeCrows]

07:16 PM on 08/07/2009

"Briefly touched North Korean soil" is vague. This is the beginning of a cover up. Did they run back and forth across the border taunting the North Koreans? Were the North Koreans that fast to capture them so easily for merely briefly touching North Korean soil? Was arrogance a part of their capture?

Have they forgotten what happened to Daniel Pearl when it comes to American Journalists? Did they think that by being Asian and female that they would get some sort of exemption just because they had cameras? Do they realize how they put this country in harms way both politically and militarily as they were used as pawns in this circus atmosphere with that whack-job Kim Jong Il?

Is there a cost breakdown involved when it came to the negotiation and freedom for these two who clearly did not think this through? Sure, the glory is on their safe return but where does the truth lie? Lisa will protect her sister and justify her decision but would she do they same if it was someone else with a last name like McCain?

The truth will never be known in this and be suspicious when they are pressed to give further details and they close rank on this situation. Kim Jong got what he wanted, a photo op and credibility that his mad rants have meaning thus giving him more power within those secretive walls inside North Korea.

[DosGatos2]

02:22 PM on 08/08/2009

These women got out because they were well-connected Americans.

KJI likely threw everyone they had contact with into the gulag along with their families. Who is negotiating for the safe release of those people?

[TheSpecter]

01:18 AM on 08/09/2009

"What is your major malfunction, numbnuts?"
http://www.entertonement.com/clips/jbdlljhhxz--What-is-your-major-malfunction-numbnutsR-Lee-Ermey-Full-Metal-Jacket-Gunnery-Sergeant-Hartman-

[HillaryGoAway]

06:34 PM on 08/07/2009

Sounds like the daughter was pretty traumatized by all this. It would be nice if she was her mom's top priority. But I guess it's considered "sexist" these days to believe a mother should put her child's well being before her own wants and ambitions.

[nowThenzen]

07:07 PM on 08/07/2009

yes, it is a good thing to make this story about you and what you have on your mind ... geez

[Bulbul]

07:28 PM on 08/07/2009

you betcha....

[waitforme]

06:30 PM on 08/07/2009

(continued due to my first comment gettong interrupted by the injudicious pressing of a button)

Hana can benefit from her own therapist so that she will have a safe place to express a range of emotions, including anger at having been left for so lpng (As irrAtional as that may seem, as her motHer was in fact incapable of being with her).

I hope this helps. Lee and ling should know that, despite soMe rude and ignorant comments on this list, many many people wish them well in their recovery -- and the same for everone who was affected by this horrendous experience.

[waitforme]

06:19 PM on 08/07/2009

As a long-term trauma and family psychotherapist i am glad for the opportunity to remind euna lee and laura ling about the importance of finding an experienced trauma psychotherapist for themselves and everyone in the family. No doubt al gore will pay for it And no one should feel embarassed to accept his offer.

2) getting their health back should be primary, and good nutrition, plus exercise, rest and being in nature are basic.

3) an experienced child therapist for hana can help her

[GwenWare]

05:40 PM on 08/07/2009

Glad you're home, ladies!

[tek kwene]

05:26 PM on 08/07/2009

How irresponsible! Why would they touch N. Korean soil when they knew they weren't supposed to do that, as if they were taunting them? I'm glad they are safe, but I truely believe all of this could have been avoided. I believe that they knowingly took chances that they KNEW could have dire consequences and deliberately risked their own safety and freedom, closeness with their family, and international relations.

But I'm glad they are back.

[rzan1]

05:44 PM on 08/07/2009

Doesn't one of them have a child? I"m glad they are home, but stupid behavior on their part.

[HillaryGoAway]

06:22 PM on 08/07/2009

Totally agree.

[marydianeg]

06:17 PM on 08/07/2009

The article only states that they stepped on N. Korean soil...not that they knowingly or intentionally stepped on N. Korean soil.

[roudy]

03:58 PM on 08/07/2009

Just think of all the back pay they will receive from their employer, The CIA.

[amdezurik]

06:03 PM on 08/07/2009

hey look everyone, Kim has his very own tr0// account here!

[mamababa]

10:10 PM on 08/07/2009

Hey look everyone - Dick Cheney has his own account here. Rules? Piffle! The Law? Pfuft!

[k6007]

03:23 PM on 08/07/2009

Glad she's home safe.

(Hubby is....Smoking Hot!!)

[ScrappyGal]

03:31 PM on 08/07/2009

He IS hot , isn't he?! Good golly!

I'm glad they're safely at home!!

[k6007]

03:48 PM on 08/07/2009

lol!

[Bulbul]

04:18 PM on 08/07/2009

Taken...

[soundping]

02:55 PM on 08/07/2009

I wouldn't want ANY solders left behind and that goes for regular citizens as well.

[Rational-1]

02:43 PM on 08/07/2009

They remind me of Jon & Kate... self-inflicted conflict. Current TV should reimburse taxpayers for the cost of this debacle.

[Terry6202]

03:44 PM on 08/07/2009

Exactly.

[daffodil-11]

04:07 PM on 08/07/2009

Again, you won't pay a penny. Stephen Bing paid for it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/05/stephen-bing-wealthy-holl_n_251989.html

Dang, are some folks here deliberatley being obstinate despite all the information that's clearly available to everyone?

[renatam]

05:37 PM on 08/07/2009

Mr. Bing, an investor in Current TV (not yet disclosed)...did not cover the TIME of the State Department employees, the distraction of a President and his staff who ALSO helped negotiate - and were distracted when the Nation has MANY other real problems to deal with, etc. And, Ms. Lee had no business going into North Korea when she has a small child. There is a REASON journalists don't go there...and both Ms. Ling and Lee knew what they were doing - but, jumped the shark for a SCOOP. Ridiculous.

Next time they had better be willing to pay the CONSEQUENCES.

[StonyStoner]

05:43 PM on 08/07/2009

I think those obstinate folks are jealous. I know that makes no sense, but then neither do they.

From the story: "Lee and Ling ... were working on a story about the trafficking of women when they were arrested in March."

Yeah, it was all about being on TV.

There are those that do, and those that bitc.h.

[renatam]

02:22 PM on 08/07/2009

Glad they are home safely.

Would appreciate Americans not going on visits/hikes INSIDE of rogue Nations - to SELL their harrowing stories after our foreign policy and President has to be distracted to help get you out.

And, American journalists..and media...how about TELLING the American people the truth for a change, which is...these ladies WERE inside of North Korea, uninvited and w/out appropriate documentation...while there is no formal relationship between our Countries? No more phoney trumped-up stories that got us into the Iraq War quagmire based upon LIES and manipulation, please.

[kylennblack]

03:01 PM on 08/07/2009

Thank you. It's one thing to bring human rights abuses to light - and it needs to be done - but when caught doing something illegal they are subject to the laws and penalties of that nation. This goes for the three American hikers in Iran as well.

[renatam]

05:30 PM on 08/07/2009

WHO would go hiking in Iran...now??? Ridiculous.

[Scurvybro]

04:49 PM on 08/07/2009

Like most others, I'm happy for the families of these women that they have been returned safely.

However, when Ms. Ling and Ms. Lee get around to telling what happened, I'm not that confident that we'll hear the whole, unvarnished story. I'm expecting to hear how brave and intrepid they were, and how the North Koreans captured and detained them without justification.

In covering this story, it would be nice if some reporter dared to venture outside of the "courageous-heroine" angle and explored to what extent hubris, arrogance and naivete were factors. The key, overriding question concerns whether these women were in North Korean territory and, if so, did they enter there knowingly?

If they did enter North Korea knowingly, then they are not all that sympathetic figures for me. Yes, it's terrible that North Korea was going to punish them harshly for a minor transgression, but everyone knows North Korea is a rogue country, and does not play by the rules. Certainly, Ms. Ling and Ms. Lee knew this. And yet, if they knowingly crossed the border, they rolled the dice that they either would not get caught or, if they did, wouldn't be detained.

Sometimes, when you gamble, you lose. They got bailed out this time, but that does not negate the extremely poor judgment, if not impudence, that they displayed.

[renatam]

05:34 PM on 08/07/2009

Well, I agree. The sad part is sometime in the future a REAL situation is going to occur, where Americans who through NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN will need the support of the American people and our Government...but situations like this and the hikers in Iran (dah?) will have cried wolf too many times.

Methinks the fact they were journalists...and Ms. Ling's sister and American media clearly didn't TELL the American people they had gone into North Korea (quite the opposite, by the way)...the story was spun so the sympathetic American people would aid in getting them free.

These ladies should NOT write a book, etc. They were in the wrong.

[amdezurik]

06:06 PM on 08/07/2009

whoo hoo anyother pity party for Kim!