Clinton meets Kim over fate of jailed journalists
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 later denied that Mr Obama had sent a verbal message to the North Korean leader.
Asked about reports claiming that Mr Clinton delivered personal words on behalf of the president, Mr Gibbs said it was “not true”.
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”.
