Former U.S. President Bill Clinton left Pyongyang Wednesday morning aboard a chartered plane along with two American journalists released by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), after a 20-hour visit there largely aimed at bringing the two home.
The two women, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, who worked for the San Francisco-based Current TV co-founded by Clinton's Vice President Al Gore, were captured on March 17 for allegedly crossing the DPRK border from China and committing "hostile actions" against the country. They were sentenced to 12 years of hard labour in June.
The DPRK granted an amnesty and released them during Clinton's visit to the country, the DPRK's official KCNA news agency reported on Wednesday.
Ling, 32, is Chinese American, while Lee, 36, is Korean American. Both are from California.
"The measure taken to release the American journalists is a manifestation of the DPRK's humanitarian and peace-loving policy," the KCNA report said.
During Clinton's trip, he met with DPRK top leader Kim Jong Il and they had talks on improving bilateral relations.
During the talks, Clinton "sincerely apologized" on behalf of the women for the "hostile acts committed against the DPRK after illegally intruding into it," and conveyed a request of the U.S. government to pardon them and send them home, the KCNA said.
"Clinton courteously conveyed a verbal message of U.S. President Barack Obama expressing profound thanks for this," it added.
Kim and Clinton "had candid and in-depth discussions on the pending issues between the DPRK and the United States in a sincere atmosphere and reached a consensus of views on seeking a negotiated settlement of them," the report said.
Clinton also conveyed a verbal message of Obama "reflecting views on ways of improving the relations between the two countries," it added.
Clinton's visit will "contribute to deepening the understanding between the DPRK and the United States and building the bilateral confidence," it said.
According to a report by the DPRK's official central television on Tuesday, Kim expressed thanks and welcomed Clinton's visit to the DPRK, and "had an exhaustive conversation with him (Clinton)" during their meeting.
The DPRK leader also hosted a welcome dinner for Clinton at the Paekhwawon State Guest House on Tuesday evening, which "proceeded in a cordial atmosphere," it added.
DPRK First Vice Foreign Minister Kang Sok Ju and Department Director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party Kim Yang Gon also attended the talks.
Clinton arrived in Pyongyang at noon on Tuesday. He was greeted by Yang Hyong Sop, vice president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, and Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan at the Pyongyang Sunan International Airport, who also saw him off Wednesday morning.
Clinton did not answer any questions asked by reporters and left the airport immediately after his arrival. The DPRK had toughened security for Clinton's arrival, with policemen blocking the road 8 km away from the airport.
Pyongyang has no diplomatic relations with Washington. Clinton is the highest-level American to visit the DPRK after Clinton's own Secretary of State Madeleine Albright met with Kim Jong Il in 2000.
A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK hinted in late July that the country might hold one-on-one talks with the United States, while ruling out the possibility of returning to the six- party talks aimed at dismantling its nuclear programs.
The White House declined to make comment on Clinton's surprise visit to Pyongyang, saying it was a "solely private" mission to secure the release of the two American journalists. Nor did it confirm that Clinton carried a message from Obama.