Bill Clinton leaves North Korea with two journalists

Former US president Bill Clinton managed to secure the release of two female American journalists,who were arrested by North Korean officials,some five months ago.

Former US president Bill Clinton,left Pyongyang on Wednesday after securing the release of two female American journalists,who were arrested by North Korean officials,some five months ago.

“President Clinton has safely left North Korea with Laura Ling and Euna Lee,” said Matt McKenna,spokesman for Bill Clinton. Clinton apologised to Kim Jong-Il for the behaviour of the two women journalists after which they were released,North Korea media reported.

“They are en route to Los Angeles where Laura and Euna will be reunited with their families,” McKenna said in a statement.

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Reporters of the California-based Current TV – a media venture launched by Clinton’s former vice president,Al Gore – Laura and Euna were serving 12 years of hard labour imprisonment for allegedly crossing the China-North Korea border illegally.

In a surprise and unannounced move,Clinton reached Pyongyang on Tuesday to hold talks with the North Korean authorities and seek the release of the two journalists.

Clinton also met the North Korean leader Kim Jong II. He was received at the airport by Kim Kye Gwan,North Korea’s chief nuclear negotiator.

Earlier in the day,the White House and the State Department refused to entertain questions related to the visit of Bill Clinton to North Korea.

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“While this solely private mission to secure the release of two Americans is on the ground,we will have no comment,” White House Press Secretary,Robert Gibbs,said in a statement.