A Chinese-American journalist is appealing to the international community to prevent the repatriation of North Korean escapees to North Korea.

Laura Ling said in a video message that her detention in North Korea was the most frightening moment of her life, but she is now home and free. She expressed concern that 30 North Korean escapees who are on the verge of being forcibly returned to North Korea from China could face torture or execution back in the North.

Ling delivered the appeal with her sister Lisa in a message that was produced by a U.S.-based civic organization for North Koreans’ human rights. It was posted on video sharing Web sites such as Youtube and Vimeo.

Ling and fellow journalist Euna Lee were detained in North Korea after illegally entering the North in March, 2009. They were tried and sentenced to 12 years of hard labor. But subsequently, the two American journalists were released in August, 2009, after former U.S. President Bill Clinton met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.