[3][4] The United States Government protested the sentences and implemented diplomatic efforts in order to secure the release of both Lee and Ling.
[5] On August 4, 2009, Lee and Ling were pardoned by the North Korean government after a special humanitarian visit by former U.S. President Bill Clinton.
[9] On August 4, 2009, Bill Clinton visited North Korea in an attempt to free Lee and fellow journalist Laura Ling.
[12] Human rights activists in South Korea accused Lee and Ling of placing North Korean refugees in danger through their actions.
[13] In 2011, Lee and Ling received the McGill Medal for Journalistic Courage from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.