US journalist Ling names daughter after Bill Clinton

Washington, June 5 (ANI): American journalist Laura Ling, who credits former president Bill Clinton for securing her release from North Korea last August, has named her newborn after him.

Ling, the sister of media personality Lisa Ling, was held in captivity for five months last year along with colleague Euna Lee and charged with espionage after the two crossed into North Korea.

The journalists were sentenced to 12 years of hard labor in a government detention camp following their arrest.

Clinton, who traveled to North Korea last August to negotiate the pair's release, has reportedly contacted Ling several times in recent months to check on her well-being.

On Wednesday, Ling honored the president by naming her newborn daughter, Li Jefferson Clayton, after Clinton, People's magazine reports.

Clinton's middle name is Jefferson.

"He has checked in on me several times to see how I'm doing and has been so concerned and caring. He's such a wonderful human being," she said. (ANI)