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WORLD: Bill Clinton meets Kim over fate of jailed US reporters
Ed Harris04.08.09
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Former US president Bill Clinton met North Korean leader Kim Jong Il today as part of a mission to free two American journalists from the secretive state's notorious work camps.
Euna Lee, 36, and Laura Ling, 32, reporters for former vice president Al Gore's Current TV, were each sentenced to 12 years "reform through labour" after being convicted of illegal entry and "hostile acts".
Pyongyang's official state media, the Korean Central News Agency, said that Mr Clinton and Mr Kim shared "a wide ranging exchange of views" during the meeting.
It added that the former US head of state "courteously" conveyed a message from President Barack Obama.
The White House has remained tight-lipped over the surprise trip by Mr Clinton. In a brief statement released today, Robert Gibbs, the president's press secretary said: "While this solely private mission to secure the release of two Americans is on the ground, we will have no comment.
"We do not want to jeopardise the success of former President Clinton's mission."
The visit was not pre-announced either by officials in Pyongyang or Washington. It comes following months of tension on the Korean peninsular.
The testing of an underground nuclear device and the firing of rockets by the North earlier this year has led to a growing war of words.
During a bitter exchange, Mr Clinton's wife, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, was singled out in undiplomatic language.
After accusations from Mrs Clinton that North Korea was behaving like an "unruly teenager" over its nuclear stance, the North's state media referred to her as a "funny lady".
It added that the 61-year-old acted sometimes like a primary schoolgirl and sometimes a pensioner going shopping.
Today's head-to-head with Mr Kim would represent the first such meeting with a high-profile western figure since the ailing North Korean leader reportedly suffered a stroke last year.
It is the latest push by the Washington to get the US reporters released.
The two journalists were detained on March 17 while on a reporting trip to China. North Korean authorities claim that the pair strayed on to North Korean soil in a bid to take part in "hostile acts".
Reader views (5)
I guess the US Secretary of State - HIllary Rodham Clinton - couldn't get the job done, so they sent in hubby
Nothing like appeasing the enemy. didn't work when he was president, won't work now.
- Trunk, US
Congratulations to Bill Clinton on his PR work in North Korea. This country has to be the most mocked of all time in the whole history of the world: a massive concentration camp, with it's present leader dead for the last 15 years and still in charge? If Clinton ever manages to talk North Korea out of nuclear arms, it would be comparable to a father stopping his 8 year old son from playing with fireworks.
- Stevie, Haarlem Netherlands
actually it is a strategy that might work. Provides some splotlight to N Korea and Clinton is ever the diplomat so you never know how this might turn out-maybe favorable for all parties
- M Doyle, London, UK
Would the North Koreans be interested in a trade, I wonder? They release those two US journalists and in return they get to keep Bill Clinton. Anybody got a better idea? Do I hear Hillary going "yeah, yeah, yeah"?
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands
This sounds hopeful, I am not a fan of the Democrats, But Bill Clinton commands a lot of respect throughout the World, and perhaps if he can create dialogue with North Korea, even if it results in the release of Laura Ling, and Euna Lee, which would be wonderful, it could be the start of resolving other problems, I am sure everyone knows by now N/Korea is a diplomatic minefield, and anything that softens their stance against the rest of the World is welcome, "good luck Bill Clinton".
- David Crocket, Bradford, UK
