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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| North Korea pardons US reporters | North Korea pardons US reporters |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has issued a special pardon to two detained US journalists, the country's state news agency reports. | North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has issued a special pardon to two detained US journalists, the country's state news agency reports. |
| Laura Ling and Euna Lee had been found guilty of entering illegally in March. | Laura Ling and Euna Lee had been found guilty of entering illegally in March. |
| The news comes hours after former US President Bill Clinton made an unannounced visit to Pyongyang on what was described as a private mission. | |
| Mr Clinton is the highest-profile American to visit since ex-secretary of state Madeleine Albright in 2000. | Mr Clinton is the highest-profile American to visit since ex-secretary of state Madeleine Albright in 2000. |
| "Kim Jong-il issued an order... granting a special pardon to the two American journalists who had been sentenced to hard labour," the official North Korean News Agency (KCNA) said in a statement. | "Kim Jong-il issued an order... granting a special pardon to the two American journalists who had been sentenced to hard labour," the official North Korean News Agency (KCNA) said in a statement. |
| The women's pardon was a sign of North Korea's "humanitarian and peace-loving policy", KCNA said. | |
| 'Private visit' | |
| Washington had made no announcement of Mr Clinton's trip prior to his arrival on Tuesday, but later stressed it was a private visit. | |
| Mr Clinton had landed in Pyongyang in an unmarked plane and was greeted at the airport by North Korean officials. | |
| KCNA said that Mr Clinton had met North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, although the White House denied its report that Mr Clinton had conveyed a message from US President Barack Obama. | |
| Laura Ling, 32, and Euna Lee, 36, had been found guilty of entering North Korea illegally across the Chinese border in March and were 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. | |
| Analysts say that Kim Jong-il is eager to improve relations with Washington as he prepares to name a successor. | |
| President Kim is believed to have suffered a stroke a year ago and also has chronic diabetes and heart disease. Analysts say his third son is being lined up to succeed him. |