by Mark Silva
Bill Clinton didn't go to Pyongyang for nothing.
For all the appearances of high-level negotiations over two jailed American journalists created by the surprise visit of the former president to North Korea and Clinton's meeting with leader Kim Jong Il, the speed with which North Korea today announced the pardon and release of the two makes it clear that this was a pre-arranged deal.
The state-run news agency, KCNA, said today that the North Korean leader had pardoned the two after the former president of the United States met with North Korea's top leaders in Pyongyang.
And North Korea was telling the story quickly -- its own way:
"Clinton expressed words of sincere apology to Kim Jong Il for the hostile acts committed by the two American journalists against the DPRK after illegally intruding into it," the news agency reported. "Clinton courteously conveyed to Kim Jong Il an earnest request of the U.S. government to leniently pardon them and send them back home from a humanitarian point of view.
"The meetings had candid and in-depth discussions on the pending issues between the DPRK and the U.S. in a sincere atmosphere and reached a consensus of views on seeking a negotiated settlement of them."
The agency said Clinton had conveyed a message from President Obama "expressing profound thanks for this and reflecting views on ways of improving the relations between the two countries'' -- though the White House was saying nothing about the visit today, and doing its best to keep the talks surrounding the jailed journalists separate from its ongoing dispute with North Korea over nuclear proliferation.
The North Korean agency called the release of the journalists "a manifestation of the DPRK's humanitarian and peace-loving policy.''
While the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea" may have shown a different manifest with its repeated test firing of missiles and testing of a nuclear device, word that it was releasing Laura Ling and Euna Lee, both reporters for California-based Current TV, a media venture launched by Clinton's running mate and vice president, Nobel Prize-winner Al Gore, was welcome at the Obama White House and many other homes.
Read all about the way the North Korean deal with Clinton went down, with the report from the Washington Bureau in Tribune newspapers and here in the Swamp:
By Paul Richter
Reporting from Washington -- The negotiations that led to former President Clinton's secret mission to North Korea began as soon as two U.S. journalists were seized by the isolated Stalinist state, and have been spurred on by the administration's hope that they might lead to a resumption of gridlocked disarmament talks, according to people close to the process.
The goal was a specific deal: If the United States showed respect by dispatching a high-level emissary to Pyongyang, the North would release journalists Laura Ling and Eun Lee, who were arrested along the border with China on March 17. North Korean media announced today that leader Kim Jong Il had pardoned the pair and ordered their release in response to the visit, Associated Press reported.
"This has been an orchestrated diplomatic process, carefully calibrated in both capitals," said a person who has been close to the exchanges since they began. He asked for anonymity because of the diplomatic sensitivity of the issue.
A large number of respected figures volunteered to be the envoy, including Clinton; former Vice President Al Gore, who is co-founder of the media company that employs the two women; Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John F. Kerry (D-Mass.); New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson; and former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Donald P. Gregg.
But it became clear that Clinton was the best choice. He presided over a long thaw in relations between the U.S. and North Korea as president in the 1990s and is one of the most important American visitors to the North since his secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, traveled there in 2000.
Clinton was eager for the role. He had been urged to take on the mission in May, when he met in Seoul with Kim Dae Jung, the former South Korean president who had worked with Clinton while both were in office to carry out a "sunshine policy" with the North.
"He was a perfect choice, and a safe choice," said Charles L. Pritchard, a former U.S. negotiator with North Korea. "He'd handled tough North Korea issues before, and he wasn't going to go off and do something that the secretary of State wouldn't like."
Although Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton made repeated public appeals for the women's release, the negotiations were handled primarily -- like much of the Obama administration's foreign policy -- by senior White House aides. They included retired Gen. James L. Jones, the national security advisor; Thomas E. Donilon, one of Jones' deputies; and Jeffrey Bader, the top National Security Council expert on the region.
Administration officials wanted to separate the mission as much as possible from politics, in hopes of preventing North Korea from forcing concessions in the 6-year-old nuclear disarmament talks.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs insisted again today that the visit was a private, strictly humanitarian undertaking.
Yet behind the scenes, White House officials kept tight control of the negotiations, said people close to the process. They wanted to be sure that Bill Clinton wouldn't depart for North Korea in a chartered jet unless there was a very good chance that the North Koreans would release the women.
Many Obama officials are skeptical that North Korea officials, who have repeatedly denounced the six-country disarmament talks, will return to the negotiating table. Yet some officials are hoping that the mission could provide the North with a face-saving way to move back toward negotiations.
Those might start, for example, with country-to-country talks between U.S. and North Korean officials, possibly followed later by international negotiations, in a new format if not in the current so-called six-party format. North Korean officials have been eager for one-on-one talks with the Americans, believing they would have a better advantage.
U.S. officials have publicly ruled out any new deal that would reward North Korea for finally doing what the United States and its allies have already paid them for doing, such as dismantling its aging Yongbyon nuclear reactor. But the United States and its partners might be willing to reward Pyongyang if it takes new steps toward disarmament, these sources said.
One of the important messages that the United States sent Pyongyang came July 10, when Hillary Clinton said in a televised public meeting at the State Department that the women and their families had expressed "great remorse" for entering North Korea. She asked Pyongyang to give an "amnesty" to the women.
North Korea sent a positive message back on July 27, when its state-run news agency said Pyongyang might be open to a resumption of dialogue.
"That was a clear, authoritative signal," said the person close to the talks.
Gibbs, the White House press secretary, denied Tuesday that Obama had sent a message with Clinton to be passed on to Kim, the North Korean leader.
But several people close to the talks said that if Obama didn't give Clinton a letter to pass on, the former president certainly will communicate the administration's views. They said they expect he will essentially tell the North Koreans what the administration has been saying publicly - that they should return to negotiations, and will be rewarded if they take additional steps toward giving up their small nuclear arsenal.
Though North Korea's leadership is believed to be embroiled in an internal dispute about who will succeed Kim, the people close to the talks said it was clear that in these communications, Kim, known as "Dear Leader," was still making the key decisions.
A 1994 visit to Pyongyang by former President Carter led to a period of cooperation between the two countries. But Korea specialists said that the success of the mission shouldn't lead to any unrealistic hopes about the chances for a real improvement in U.S.-North Korean relations, which have been in a downward spiral all year.
Gordon Flake, a longtime North Korea specialist at the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation, said hopes and uncertainties that existed in 1994 have been largely extinguished since by the regime's behavior. Already this year, the North has tested a nuclear weapon, alarmed neighbors by test-firing a series of missiles, and declared that it would never return to the talks.
The environment now "is much more difficult, much more constrained," said Flake. "There are far fewer options."
Comments
Congrats to Big Dog Clinton!
Outstanding work, sir.
.
Posted by: BigCheese | August 4, 2009 4:07 PM
Way to go Big Willie! i guess the wrong Clinton is Secretary of State
Posted by: CP | August 4, 2009 4:22 PM
One wonders, what was the quid pro quo? The diminutive dictator didn't release his hostages out of the goodness of his grinchy little heart.
Posted by: The guy who hides behind false names (so sayeth Don) | August 4, 2009 4:22 PM
That is a statesmen.
Posted by: joe | August 4, 2009 4:24 PM
That is a real statesman.
Posted by: joe | August 4, 2009 4:26 PM
Clinton is THE MAN! Kudos to Obama administration for knowing how to handle this.
Posted by: Wow | August 4, 2009 4:27 PM
It is great to see that former President Clinton hasn't lost any of his statesman's skills. I can only imagine if ex-President Bush&Cheney would have attempted anything like this !! They would have laughed them all the way back to Texas. Way to go, Mr. Clinton !
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | August 4, 2009 4:30 PM
Just when this country is on the verge of recovering from the Clinton Presidency (economic disaster), now Bill Clinton puts the lives of two ignorant journalists ahead of thousands in Hawaii or Guam. A sad day for America when a country on the verge of having nuclear weapons has won its propaganda war - in the eyes of a lot of people, N. Korea are the good guys here while they continue to assemble their nuclear arsenal.
Posted by: Brian | August 4, 2009 4:35 PM
CP, people like you drive me crazy. You are so immersed in your own self-deprecation, that you turn everything into something found at the bottom of a porto-potty.
Posted by: Fed Up with Righties | August 4, 2009 4:37 PM
YES!!!
Posted by: Sarah | August 4, 2009 4:39 PM
Congratulations to Bill Clinton and the Obama administration. This is good news no matter how you look at it. And without a doubt it's fantastic for the two women and their families and friends.
Posted by: JLE | August 4, 2009 4:39 PM
I can just see the obstructionist conservatives trying to put a negative spin on this, but is sure nice to see an administration that actually cares about people.
Thanks Bill, you are the man!!!
Posted by: Robert | August 4, 2009 4:45 PM
Why wasnt Jimmy Carter handling this, isnt he the senior ex president now? Where was the Secy of State, Mrs Clinton? And I hope every reporter, blogger, real or imaginged from this point on comes to realize these kind of Countries mean business when it comes to not valuing human rights---you go poking around there, or near their borders, dont always expect to get released if you get caught.
Posted by: Bagwhan | August 4, 2009 4:48 PM
Great news here. Now, a message to any reporters or journalists...stay out of NK. Know your border. The next group will not be as lucky.
Posted by: James | August 4, 2009 4:51 PM
CP - you know that when Obama hired Hillary for the job it was partially because Bill was part of the package. When he started removing himself from boards, and disclosing his private finances it was because he was going to be tapped to work with the White House in consultative capacities. The Clintons are a self-contained good cop/bad couple.
Posted by: Mich | August 4, 2009 4:54 PM
Nice propaganda victory for Kim Jong-Il.
Posted by: Doug Down | August 4, 2009 4:54 PM
Please! This had nothing to do with Obama. Bush probably couldn't have gotten it done, but neither could Obama. He has screwed up everything he has touched so far...and I'm a Democrat.
Posted by: Jay | August 4, 2009 4:54 PM
Great job to Former President Clinton however I hope these two young ladies will learn to respect the law in their efforts for catching the story. From everything I've read, they both knew exactly what they were doing yet thought it was OK under the guise of journalism. As if our government doesn't have enough it's spending our tax dollars on. Learn to respect the law, despite the country, ladies!
Posted by: Vira | August 4, 2009 4:54 PM
Great job to Former President Clinton however I hope these two young ladies will learn to respect the law in their efforts for catching the story. From everything I've read, they both knew exactly what they were doing yet thought it was OK under the guise of journalism. As if our government doesn't have enough it's spending our tax dollars on. Learn to respect the law, despite the country, ladies!
Posted by: Vira | August 4, 2009 4:55 PM
President Clinton is the Man! Now, maybe those two women will stop chasing the Pultzer Prize.
Posted by: High Pockets | August 4, 2009 4:55 PM
Nice propaganda coup for Kim Jong- Il.
Posted by: Tony Rodham | August 4, 2009 4:57 PM
Where are all of the right-wingers ranting, deflecting and spinning this to oblivion?
Bill Clinton was the best President of our modern era. His good deeds are enjoyed by millions throughout the world. And his generosity is unmatched by ANY past President.
Posted by: M.Kenney | August 4, 2009 5:08 PM
Well he should have gotten them pardoned seeing their arrest most assuredly must have been all Bill Clinton's fault in the first place. Or is it Obama's fault because he is the joker devil man spewing evil socialism talk across the nation according to the GOP?
Seriously folks...thanks to Clinton for his securing the reelease of these two.
Posted by: lochnesssmonster | August 4, 2009 5:18 PM
"Where are all of the right-wingers ranting, deflecting and spinning this to oblivion?
Bill Clinton was the best President of our modern era. His good deeds are enjoyed by millions throughout the world. And his generosity is unmatched by ANY past President."
Speaking of spin... WOW! No right-winger can touch this little gem.
Posted by: The guy who hides behind false names (so sayeth Don) | August 4, 2009 5:21 PM
Another successful release of American citizens. Time for the Rush "Failure First" crowd to complain about something.
Posted by: Middle Man | August 4, 2009 5:23 PM
and who paid for Billy boy's trip to N korea?
Posted by: should have left them in jail | August 4, 2009 5:27 PM
Hope Gore's network foots the bill for this. These "reporters" were in the country illegally by thier own admission.
Posted by: Mitche | August 4, 2009 5:29 PM
This morning the White House said it had nothing to do with Clinton going over there, but now that it was successful you neo-marxists praise king Obama.
No one said you had to be smart to be liberal.
Posted by: Chase | August 4, 2009 5:38 PM
Congrats to Big Dog Clinton and Happy Birthday to President Obama, what a GREAT team. And Hillary too!
Posted by: K | August 4, 2009 5:43 PM
How does the tail rank over there Bubba?
Bring your cigars, you putz?
http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com
Posted by: Reaganite Republican | August 4, 2009 5:44 PM
The conservatives really hate diplomacy don't they? They really do believe that war should be the first choice and only choice (as long as they don't have to fight, that is)
Posted by: Diplomacy First | August 4, 2009 6:06 PM
John Bolton is already screaming foul. He thinks we should have nuked North Korea. Like THAT would work.
A victory for diplomacy.
Posted by: athena | August 4, 2009 6:22 PM
Shrub Jr, Darth Cheney and the rest of the Repug Neocon warmongers could never have pulled off something like this.
Congrats are in order to Presidents Clinton and Obama.
JOB WELL DONE!
Posted by: LoveBuzz | August 4, 2009 6:35 PM
Lil' Kim can spin the story any way he'd like. The two women are free. All it took was President Clinton blowing sunshine up Lil' Kim's nose. Very cool. Wondering, though, if Clinton ended up promising Lil' Kim some US dollars or grain for their food shortage in order for N. Korea to drop the charges?
Posted by: Vivian | August 4, 2009 7:02 PM
How many nuclear reactors did this cost?
Posted by: Terry | August 4, 2009 7:21 PM
"How does the tail rank over there Bubba?Bring your cigars, you putz?"
Posted by: Reaganite Republican
Such jealousy; you da putz, idiot.
Posted by: mort | August 4, 2009 7:41 PM
How many nuclear reactors did this cost?
Posted by: Terry | August 4, 2009 7:21 PM
***************************************
.
Gee, it didn't take long for the right-wing lunatic fringe sociopaths to try and turn a great job done by President Clinton into political hate.
You can change your underwear now Terri, after eight years of the warmongering and knuckldragging from your heroes Shrub and Darth, the adults are back in charge.
Posted by: ant terry | August 4, 2009 8:06 PM
Wait a minute. After 8 years of lies, cover-up, and assumption that the Constitution is written on Charmin -- we're supposed to TALK to "those" people?
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | August 4, 2009 9:05 PM
Ant,
last time Billy did a deal with North Korea, they got the better end of the deal and got the nuclear technology that has helped lead to the nuclear weapons they have today.
Posted by: Terry | August 4, 2009 9:08 PM
Willie sat him down and forced him to watch 'An Inconvenient Truth' until KJ Il released them.
In addition to our sincere apologies for subversive activities, reports are NK was awarded 4 missile test launches toward Hawaii, free of the dangers of harsh, disapproving language by the all powerful UN.
Posted by: OwebamabotsACTIVATE | August 4, 2009 9:38 PM
In addition to our sincere apologies for subversive activities, reports are NK was awarded 4 missile test launches toward Hawaii, free of the dangers of harsh, disapproving language by the all powerful UN.
Posted by: OwebamabotsACTIVATE | August 4, 2009 9:38 PM
******************************************
.
Yes, we need to return to the good ol' Repug fearmongering days of calling contries the "Axis of Evil" and saying stupid things like "Bring'em On", that worked great......NOT!
Posted by: PalinbotsHaveBeenDeActivatedForGood! | August 4, 2009 10:05 PM
Activate,
Then it's a good thing POTUS got his birth certificate outta there.
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | August 4, 2009 10:14 PM
President Clinton was always great at Diplomacy.I have great faith that if anyone can help this situation with North Korea, it would be President Clinton.
runescape money
Posted by: runescape gold | August 5, 2009 4:19 AM
Don't think for one moment that we didn't "sell our soul to the devil" just to make Democrats look good.
According to reports, our Government had this exchange already worked out before Billy boy flew out there, and of course our Government is tight lipped on what we gave in return. Maybe it was a box of Monica cigars.
Posted by: Jake Elwood | August 5, 2009 8:17 AM
Jake,
Hmm, a photo-op or 2 young women's 12 years of hard labor. Tough decision for the right wingnuts who have gotten used to shoot first, ask questions later.
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | August 5, 2009 9:53 AM
KB,
That's assuming that's all that was given to the little dictator - a 8 1/2 by 11 glossy of Bubba.
Posted by: Terry | August 5, 2009 7:38 PM
Hey Kenny,
I really couldn't understand your post. I understood you slamming the "right wingers" and I'm all for it as much as you are. I hate liberals just as much (probably a tad bit more).
The two things you and I need to remember is that we are blessed with a Country that allows us to disagree with our Government.
The second thing is the fact that the far right and left are an extreme minority. The rest of the Country tends to fall right in the middle (Fact).
Since 75-80% of all U.S. currency seems to be in the possesion of 3-5% of the population, it seems to me that only the far right or left (which are mostly upper class) would like to keep you and I down in the middle to lower class. A lower class means, less voices heard. More money equals regular commercials and advertising on a regular basis that cost a quarter $mill. a minute.
I hate lying Politicians just like anyone else (Rep. & Dem.). These guys work a fraction of the year only to make six figures that you and I are paying. These same people we are paying have been arrested for spousal abuse, D.U.I.'s, fraud, and several have bankrupted large businesses, but you and I still pay their salaries..
I apologize if I offended you as a Democrat. What I won't apologize for is standing up for the voices of many Americans like you or I.
Bush jr was a boob just as Bob Dole is. Clinton is and always will be a disgrace to this Country for his lies. Obama has stated that he used cocaine and marijuana throughout his college years, but has now become President. The direction I'm heading with, is that our Government is gradually getting worse, and worse. Our Congress is filled with the far right and the far left who seem to possess the most money. Each side would like to pass certain bills that fatten their pockets. Any proposals made by Republicans are automatically voted against by Democrats simply because it's an opposite party proposal and it doesn't benefit them personally. The same holds true with the vice versa. Each party blames the other for this Country's failures, whether they voted for or against it. If the proposal is a money maker, you'll get a response of "I knew it. I've been saying this all along". If it's not, you'll hear "I never agreed with it" or " I never said that".
Thanks to these money mongers, and the media whom show favoritism towards a party (depends on where you live), I forsee this Country falling apart within the next decade, maybe sooner.
When I said that Billy boy sold this Country's soul to the devil I meant it. I can guarantee that Korean midget wouldn't give them up without something in return. What ever it was, I'll gurantee you again that whatever it was, will be used against us in the future.
Posted by: JAKE ELWOOD | August 6, 2009 9:50 PM