NAIROBI, Kenya - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the two journalists released from North Korea are "extremely excited" to be on their way back to the United States.

Clinton told reporters in Nairobi that she had spoken with her husband, former President Bill Clinton, who traveled to Pyongyang to secure the release of the journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee. The ex-president and the journalists were flying back to Los Angeles on Wednesday morning.

Hillary Clinton said she was "very happy and relieved" that the women are on their way home. She told reporters she would have more to say about her husband's mission to North Korea after Ling and Lee are reunited with their families.