A great birthday gift for President Obama! Following former President Bill Clinton's visit to North Korea to negotiate the release of imprisoned US journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling (sister of Lisa), North Korean president Kim Jong-Il issued a "special pardon" to both women and ordered them released. Lee and Ling were accused of illegally "sneaking" into North Korea and engaging in "hostile acts" back in March, and were sentenced in June to 12 years of hard labor. (According to the Korean Central News Agency, their release is a sign of North Korea's "humanitarian and peaceloving policy" (uh hm...).

This is a breaking story and more details are sure to be released soon. In the meantime, what a great relief to Euna and Laura's families and great job to President Clinton for securing their release!

UPDATE: The families of Euna Lee and Laura Ling have released this statement:

The families of Laura Ling and Euna Lee are overjoyed by the news of their pardon. We are so grateful to our government: President Obama, Secretary Clinton and the U.S. State Department for their dedication to and hard work on behalf of American citizens.

We especially want to thank President Bill Clinton for taking on such an arduous mission and Vice President Al Gore for his tireless efforts to bring Laura and Euna home. We must also thank all the people who have supported our families through this ordeal, it has meant the world to us. We are counting the seconds to hold Laura and Euna in our arms.

-- Families of Laura Ling and Euna Lee

UPDATE 2: Statement by the President on the Release of Laura Ling and Euna Lee

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release August 5, 2009

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE RELEASE OF LAURA LING AND EUNA LEE

South Lawn

9:37 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning, everybody. I want to just make a brief comment about the fact that the two young journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling, are safely back with their families. We are obviously extraordinarily relieved. I had an opportunity to speak with the families yesterday once we knew that they were on the plane.

The reunion that we've all seen on television I think is a source of happiness not only for the families but for the entire country.

I want to thank President Bill Clinton -- I had a chance to talk to him -- for the extraordinary humanitarian effort that resulted in the release of the two journalists. I want to thank Vice President Al Gore who worked tirelessly in order to achieve a positive outcome.

I think that not only is this White House obviously extraordinarily happy, but all Americans should be grateful to both former President Clinton and Vice President Gore for their extraordinary work. And my hope is, is that the families that have been reunited can enjoy the next several days and weeks, understanding that because of the efforts of President Clinton and Gore, they are able to be with each other once again.

So we are very pleased with the outcome, and I'm hopeful that the families are going to be able to get some good time together in the next few days.

Thank you very much.

END 9:39 A.M. EDT