Turning a new page in relations between Washington and Pyongyang, North Korea freed two US journalists shortly after former US president Bill Clinton met leader Kim Jong-il.
The North Korean leader had issued a special pardon to the journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling of US media outlet Current TV, North Korea's KCNA news agency reported on Tuesday.
The journalists were arrested on the North Korea-China border in March and accused of illegal entry. Last month, they were sentenced to 12 years hard labor for what North Korea called grave crimes.
The North Korean news agency said Clinton passed on a verbal message from US President Barack Obama.
"Kim Jong-il expressed thanks for this," KCNA said of the message.
"He welcomed Clinton's visit to the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) and had an exhaustive conversation with him. There was a wide-ranging exchange of views on matters of common concern," KCNA added. |