Friend of Laura Ling "Elated" Over Her Release
Supporters at a June rally for Ling and Lee's release at the Capitol
Stephanie Tomasegovich has been friends with Laura Ling since they first met at Barrett Middle School in Carmichael 20 years ago. She reacts to the news that her friend is finally coming home after being held captive in North Korea since March.
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(Sacramento, CA)
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Carmichael native Laura Ling is on her way home from North Korea after months in captivity. She and her Current TV colleague Euna Lee were sentenced to 12 years of hard labor for allegedly sneaking into the country illegally. But on Tuesday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il issued a “special pardon” during a visit from former U-S President Bill Clinton.
We caught up with one of Ling’s longtime friends, Stephanie Tomasegovich, and asked her how she felt when she heard the news.
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Meanwhile, the families of Laura Ling and Euna Lee have issued a joint statement. It says they’re “overjoyed” at the release and are “counting the seconds” until they can hold the two journalists in their arms.