Former President Bill Clinton accompanied Laura Ling and Euna Lee as they arrived back in the United States Wednesday, less than 24 hours after the journalists were pardoned and released from a North Korean prison by leader Kim Jong Il.

Moments after their jet landed in Burbank, California, Ling addressed the crowd saying, “the past 140 days have been the most difficult heart-wrenching times of our lives.”

“Euna and I would like to express our deepest gratitude towards Bill Clinton … to our loved ones, friends, colleagues, and to the complete strangers with the kindness of hearts who showed up so much love and sent u so many positive thought and energy,” a tearful Ling said. “We could feel your love all the way in the North Korea — it’s what kept us going.”