The two American journalists freed from North Korea have returned to the United States. On Wednesday, Euna Lee and Laura Ling of Current TV landed in California. They were accompanied by former President Bill Clinton, who had traveled to North Korea to win their release. Ling reflected on her more than four months in North Korea.

Laura Ling: “We were taken to a location, and when we walked through the doors, we saw standing before us President Bill Clinton. We were shocked, but we knew instantly in our hearts that the nightmare of our lives was finally coming to an end.”

Clinton’s mission to North Korea was privately funded, with the bulk of the cost paid for by Hollywood producer Stephen Bing as well as the CEO of Dow Chemical, Andrew Liveris.