Rescued American journalists thank Dow Chemical for plane used in parts of North Korea mission
By: DEBORAH JIAN LEE
Associated Press
08/05/09 3:50 PM EDT
NEW YORK — After more than four months of captivity in North Korea, the recently pardoned American journalists on Wednesday thanked former President Bill Clinton and former Vice President Al Gore for their diplomatic work, but also offered gratitude to Dow Chemical Co. and its CEO Andrew Liveris.
The connection between the chemical company and the Current TV journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling, was not readily apparent, until Liveris issued a statement that explained that a plane owned by the Midland, Mich.-based company was used "in different parts of the mission in recent days."
A company representative couldn't be immediately reached for further comment.
"Dow is appreciative of the opportunity to provide assistance in support of the release of Ms. Ling and Ms. Lee, by providing aircraft support," said Liveris.
"Dow is grateful that Ms. Ling and Ms. Lee are back home safely and we were honored to contribute to President Clinton's humanitarian mission to obtain their release."
The two journalists, along with Clinton, flew home on a plane owned by Stephen Bing, a close Clinton friend and longtime Democratic fundraiser, said Marc Foulkrod of Burbank, Calif., chairman of Avjet Corp., the company that manages the aircraft.
After 140 days in custody, the reporters were granted a pardon by North Korea on Tuesday, following rare talks between Clinton and the reclusive North Korea leader. They had been sentenced to 12 years of hard labor for entering the country illegally.
Associated Press Writers Pamela Hess and Sharon Theimer in Washington, and Robert Jablon in Los Angeles, contributed to this report.
