Clinton meets Kim Jong-il: Yonhap

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-08-04 21:40

SEOUL: Former US President Bill Clinton, on a surprise visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to seek the release of two jailed US journalists, on Tuesday met Kim Jong-il, the state's leader, the Republic of Korea's (ROK) Yonhap news agency reported.

Image taken from video footage shows former US President Bill Clinton (R) and Kim Jong-il, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), posing for a picture in Pyongyang August 4, 2009. [Agencies]

In an unsourced report, the news agency said Clinton passed a verbal message to Kim Jong-il from US President Barack Obama.

Kim hosted a dinner for Clinton at the state guest house, reported Radio Pyongyang and the Korean Central Broadcasting Station.

Kim and Clinton exchanged "a broad range of opinion" in their talks, the report added.

The former US president arrived in Pyongyang earlier Tuesday, a trip apparently aimed at seeking the release of two American journalists detained in DPRK since March.

Clinton's surprise visit also raised hopes for a breakthrough in the long-stalled nuclear disarmament talks and a momentum for dialogue.

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