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| Bill Clinton meets N Korea leader | Bill Clinton meets N Korea leader |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Former US President Bill Clinton has met North Korean leader Kim Jong-il during an unannounced visit to the country, state media have reported. | Former US President Bill Clinton has met North Korean leader Kim Jong-il during an unannounced visit to the country, state media have reported. |
| Mr Clinton is in Pyongyang to discuss the fate of jailed US journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee. | Mr Clinton is in Pyongyang to discuss the fate of jailed US journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee. |
| He is the highest-profile American to visit since his secretary of state, Madeleine Albright, in 2000. | He is the highest-profile American to visit since his secretary of state, Madeleine Albright, in 2000. |
| US media are reporting that Mr Clinton has met the journalists and hopes are high for their release. | US media are reporting that Mr Clinton has met the journalists and hopes are high for their release. |
| Analysts say Mr Clinton may also be trying to ease the deadlock over the North's nuclear ambitions. | Analysts say Mr Clinton may also be trying to ease the deadlock over the North's nuclear ambitions. |
| Tight-lipped | Tight-lipped |
| The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said that Mr Clinton had "courteously" conveyed a verbal message from US President Barack Obama, although the White House said Mr Clinton had not carried a message from Mr Obama. | The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said that Mr Clinton had "courteously" conveyed a verbal message from US President Barack Obama, although the White House said Mr Clinton had not carried a message from Mr Obama. |
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| Bill Clinton was given flowers on his arrival in Pyongyang | Bill Clinton was given flowers on his arrival in Pyongyang |
| The ABC News network says government sources in Washington have said they hope the former president and the two women will leave North Korea soon. | |
| Washington made no announcement of Mr Clinton's trip prior to his arrival, but in a later statement stressed it was a private visit. | Washington made no announcement of Mr Clinton's trip prior to his arrival, but in a later statement stressed it was a private visit. |
| "While this solely private mission to secure the release of two Americans is on the ground, we will have no comment," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters. | "While this solely private mission to secure the release of two Americans is on the ground, we will have no comment," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters. |
| ANALYSIS John SudworthBBC News, Seoul | ANALYSIS John SudworthBBC News, Seoul |
| According to North Korea's official state media, Kim Jong-il hosted a dinner for the former US president, before the two men exchanged what is described as a "broad range of opinion". | According to North Korea's official state media, Kim Jong-il hosted a dinner for the former US president, before the two men exchanged what is described as a "broad range of opinion". |
| Face-to-face time with the North Korean leader is extremely rare for Western politicians, and granting the opportunity to Bill Clinton could be a sign that he is going to be given what he came for - the release of two American journalists. | Face-to-face time with the North Korean leader is extremely rare for Western politicians, and granting the opportunity to Bill Clinton could be a sign that he is going to be given what he came for - the release of two American journalists. |
| Mr Clinton is also reported to have delivered a verbal message from President Obama, but the White House is remaining very tight lipped. It says the case of the journalists must remain separate from wider political issues. | Mr Clinton is also reported to have delivered a verbal message from President Obama, but the White House is remaining very tight lipped. It says the case of the journalists must remain separate from wider political issues. |
| "We do not want to jeopardise the success of former President Clinton's mission." | "We do not want to jeopardise the success of former President Clinton's mission." |
| However, North Korea analyst Prof Hazel Smith, of the UK's Cranfield University, told the BBC that Mr Clinton would have the full backing of the White House. | However, North Korea analyst Prof Hazel Smith, of the UK's Cranfield University, told the BBC that Mr Clinton would have the full backing of the White House. |
| "This is not a private mission, although it being billed as such," she said. "There is no way that [former] President Clinton, married to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton... would be taking this step without the full support of the US administration." | "This is not a private mission, although it being billed as such," she said. "There is no way that [former] President Clinton, married to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton... would be taking this step without the full support of the US administration." |
| The last visit to North Korea by a former American president - Jimmy Carter in 1994 - led to an important step forward in relations between the two countries, and Mr Clinton may be hoping his trip will have the same effect. | The last visit to North Korea by a former American president - Jimmy Carter in 1994 - led to an important step forward in relations between the two countries, and Mr Clinton may be hoping his trip will have the same effect. |
| But some analysts question the wisdom of such a high-profile visit so soon after North Korea conducted a string of nuclear and missile tests in defiance of the UN Security Council - saying it may be seen by Pyongyang as a reward for bad behaviour. | But some analysts question the wisdom of such a high-profile visit so soon after North Korea conducted a string of nuclear and missile tests in defiance of the UN Security Council - saying it may be seen by Pyongyang as a reward for bad behaviour. |
| Unmarked plane | Unmarked plane |
| Mr Clinton landed in Pyongyang in an unmarked plane and was greeted at the airport by North Korean officials, including chief nuclear negotiator Kim Kye-gwan and Yang Hyong-sop, vice president of parliament. | Mr Clinton landed in Pyongyang in an unmarked plane and was greeted at the airport by North Korean officials, including chief nuclear negotiator Kim Kye-gwan and Yang Hyong-sop, vice president of parliament. |
| US JOURNALISTS JAILED 17 March: Euna Lee, left, and Laura Ling seized by North Korean border guards while reporting for California-based Current TV8 June: Sentenced to 12 years in jail for "hostile acts" and illegal entry into North Korea16 June: North Korea says journalists have "admitted and accepted" their guilt10 July: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appeals for an amnesty for the two4 August: Former US President Bill Clinton arrives in Pyongyang to discuss the journalists' fate Will Clinton visit spark change? | US JOURNALISTS JAILED 17 March: Euna Lee, left, and Laura Ling seized by North Korean border guards while reporting for California-based Current TV8 June: Sentenced to 12 years in jail for "hostile acts" and illegal entry into North Korea16 June: North Korea says journalists have "admitted and accepted" their guilt10 July: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appeals for an amnesty for the two4 August: Former US President Bill Clinton arrives in Pyongyang to discuss the journalists' fate Will Clinton visit spark change? |
| As he stepped down from the plane, a little girl came forward to present him with a bouquet of flowers. | As he stepped down from the plane, a little girl came forward to present him with a bouquet of flowers. |
| No official itinerary for the visit has been announced. | No official itinerary for the visit has been announced. |
| Analysts say that Kim Jong-il is eager to improve relations with Washington as he prepares to name a successor. | Analysts say that Kim Jong-il is eager to improve relations with Washington as he prepares to name a successor. |
| Mr Kim is thought to have suffered a stroke a year ago, and also has chronic diabetes and heart disease. Analysts say his third son is already being lined up to take over power one day. | Mr Kim is thought to have suffered a stroke a year ago, and also has chronic diabetes and heart disease. Analysts say his third son is already being lined up to take over power one day. |
| Journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee were found guilty of entering North Korea illegally across the Chinese border in March, and sentenced to 12 years' hard labour. | Journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee were found guilty of entering North Korea illegally across the Chinese border in March, and sentenced to 12 years' hard labour. |
| They were arrested by North Korean guards while filming a video about refugees for California-based internet broadcaster Current TV. | They were arrested by North Korean guards while filming a video about refugees for California-based internet broadcaster Current TV. |
| According to KCNA, the two reporters have admitted entering the country illegally. | According to KCNA, the two reporters have admitted entering the country illegally. |
| But the women's families have always said that Lee, 36, and Ling, 32, had no intention of crossing into North Korea. | But the women's families have always said that Lee, 36, and Ling, 32, had no intention of crossing into North Korea. |
| Former releases | Former releases |
| This is not the first time a senior US statesman has gone to North Korea to negotiate for the release of American citizens. | This is not the first time a senior US statesman has gone to North Korea to negotiate for the release of American citizens. |
| In 1994, then-congressman Bill Richardson - now governor of New Mexico - helped negotiate the release of Bobby Hall, one of two pilots of a US army helicopter shot down after straying into North Korea. | In 1994, then-congressman Bill Richardson - now governor of New Mexico - helped negotiate the release of Bobby Hall, one of two pilots of a US army helicopter shot down after straying into North Korea. |
| Two years later, he negotiated the release of Evan Hunziker, who was detained on suspicion of spying after swimming the Yalu river border. | Two years later, he negotiated the release of Evan Hunziker, who was detained on suspicion of spying after swimming the Yalu river border. |
| Critics say Mr Clinton's trip will be exploited for maximum propaganda value by Pyongyang. | Critics say Mr Clinton's trip will be exploited for maximum propaganda value by Pyongyang. |
| However, although his arrival was covered by North Korea's evening television news, it was not until after apparently more newsworthy items, such as the improving quality standards at a biscuit factory, says our correspondent in Seoul, John Sudworth. | However, although his arrival was covered by North Korea's evening television news, it was not until after apparently more newsworthy items, such as the improving quality standards at a biscuit factory, says our correspondent in Seoul, John Sudworth. |