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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| North Korea pardons US reporters | North Korea pardons US reporters |
| (10 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. | The news comes hours after former US President Bill Clinton made an unannounced visit to Pyongyang on what was described as a private mission. |
| North Korean media say Mr Clinton has now left the country but it is not known if the journalists are with him. | |
| 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. |
| The BBC's Kim Ghattas, in Washington, says it is expected that the two journalists will fly back to the US with Mr Clinton, although that has not been confirmed. | The BBC's Kim Ghattas, in Washington, says it is expected that the two journalists will fly back to the US with Mr Clinton, although that has not been confirmed. |
| "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 and release was a sign of North Korea's "humanitarian and peace-loving policy", KCNA said. | The women's pardon and release was a sign of North Korea's "humanitarian and peace-loving policy", KCNA said. |
| Families 'overjoyed' | Families 'overjoyed' |
| The families of the two journalists said they were "overjoyed" by the news. | The families of the two journalists said they were "overjoyed" by the news. |
| In a statement posted on a website, they thanked Mr Clinton and also former Vice-President Al Gore for their efforts to get the women released. | |
| Washington had made no announcement of Mr Clinton's trip prior to his arrival on Tuesday, but later stressed it was a 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. |
| However, media reports in Washington suggest the White House approved the mission and it had been secretly planned for weeks, our correspondent says. | However, media reports in Washington suggest the White House approved the mission and it had been secretly planned for weeks, our correspondent says. |
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| State media said Bill Clinton and Kim Jong-il had wide-ranging talks | State media said Bill Clinton and Kim Jong-il had wide-ranging talks |
| Mr Clinton had landed in Pyongyang in an unmarked plane and was greeted at the airport by North Korean officials. | 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 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. | KCNA said that Mr Clinton 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. |
| US JOURNALISTS PARDONED 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 and North Korea later announces the journalists will be pardoned Will visit change Pyongyang? | US JOURNALISTS PARDONED 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 and North Korea later announces the journalists will be pardoned Will visit change Pyongyang? |
| 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. | 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. | They were arrested by North Korean guards while filming a video about refugees for California-based internet broadcaster Current TV. |
| The White House has pressed for their release, and Mr Clinton's wife, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, asked last month that they be granted amnesty. | The White House has pressed for their release, and Mr Clinton's wife, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, asked last month that they be granted amnesty. |
| 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Nuclear tension | Nuclear tension |
| Mr Clinton's visit comes at a time of heightened tension between Washington and Pyongyang on North Korea's nuclear programme. | Mr Clinton's visit comes at a time of heightened tension between Washington and Pyongyang on North Korea's nuclear programme. |
| North Korea dropped out of six-party talks after the UN censured along-range missile test in April. The parties include Russia, China, Japan, the US and both Koreas. | North Korea dropped out of six-party talks after the UN censured along-range missile test in April. The parties include Russia, China, Japan, the US and both Koreas. |
| An underground nuclear test and further missile tests followed, provoking new UN Security Council sanctions. | An underground nuclear test and further missile tests followed, provoking new UN Security Council sanctions. |