Tearful reunion as United States journos return home

Returned home to a tearful family reunion on Wednesday accompanied by former President Bill Clinton, who secured their release in a meeting with the reclusive state's leader Kim Jong-Il. Laura Ling, 32, and Euna Lee, 36, reporters for an American cable television, venture co-founded by Mr Clinton's former vice-president, Mr Al Gore, arrived with Mr Clinton at Burbank Airport near Los Angeles aboard a private jet from North Korea. The two Current TV journalists were arrested on March 17 for illegally crossing into the North from China and had been reporting on the trafficking of women. They were both sentenced to 12 years hard labour in June.

Ms Ling raised her arms in the air as the two women descended from the plane for a tearful reunion with their families. Ms Ling thanked all those who had campaigned for their release.

To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://epaper.asianage.com

North Korea’s rocket may be shot down by Japan

Japan may order its military to prepare to shoot down a North Korean rocket if it threatens to hit the country, media reports said on Wednesday, ahead of a meeting to discuss the plan.

The isolated Pyongyang regime has said it will launch a communications satellite over Japanese territory in early April, but the United States and its Asian allies suspect the launch is a long-range ballistic missile test.

Tokyo, which has developed a missile defence system with the United States, has warned it will shoot down any object — a missile or any debris — if it threatens to hit Japanese ter ritory. North Korea says it would regard a rocket intercept as an act of war.

To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://epaper.asianage.com