One of the two journalists held captive for months in North Korea conceded to relatives after her release on Wednesday that she had “very briefly” crossed into the Communist country, her sister said Thursday.

Lisa Ling, the television personality, revealed that her sister  Laura Ling, 32, a reporter with Current TV  planned to write an editorial explaining the events that led North Korean authorities to detain her and a fellow American journalist, Euna Lee, 36. But Ms. Ling, speaking by telephone on CNN Thursday evening, revealed that the two women did apparently cross into North Korea from China as they were researching a story on human trafficking on March 17. The women were subsequently convicted and sentenced to 12 years hard labor.

“She did say that they touched North Korean territory very, very briefly,” Ms. Ling said of her sister, adding later, “She said that it was maybe 30 seconds, and everything just got sort of chaotic. It’s a very powerful story and she does want to share it.”

Ms. Ling, a former co-host of The View, said that she would leave it to her sister to divulge the remaining details for her captivity.