Bill Clinton Arrives in N. Korea-Met by Yang Hyong Sop

by Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke | August 4, 2009 at 03:54 am

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President Bill Clinton arrived in Pyonyang North Korea this morning. He is on an unannounced mission to negotiate the release of American journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling. The two journalists were apprehended inside North Korea after crossing the Chinese border. They were sentenced to 12 years of hard labour.

Clinton was met by Yang Hyong Sop, Vice-President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly and Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye-Gwan. The Obama Administration was deeply concerned about the American journalists.

Bill Clinton has already met with Kim Jong Il. According to the North Korean News Agency, President Clinton delivered a courteous message from President Obama.

Some believe that this action by Bill Clinton is undermining his wife Hillary Rodham Clinton in her capacity of Secretary of State. If Clinton succeeds in gaining the release of these two journalists, why would it matter? Sounds to this author that it is a case of good cop/bad cop.

Kudos to Bill Clinton for his efforts.

Former president Bill Clinton landed in North Korea on Tuesday on an unannounced mission to negotiate the release of two American journalists, marking his first diplomatic mission abroad for the Obama administration in a case that has deeply concerned his wife, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Clinton and his party were greeted at an airport in Pyongyang, the capital, by Yang Hyong Sop, vice president of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly and by Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye-Gwan, the Korean Central News Agency said. Kim is the chief nuclear negotiator for North Korea.

His arrival was announced by the North Korea's official news agency, which reported, "A little girl presented a bouquet to Bill Clinton."

The journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling, were seized near the Chinese border while working on a story,

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A. Tran

at 04:44 on August 4th, 2009

Mr. Clinton went on behalf of the Ling-Lee families and with his wife, the Secretary of State's full knowledge and approval.

I think people should take a moment and recognize that the lives of two Americans is at stake first, rather than speculating how Mr. Clinton "would undermine" his wife's position. While it's fun for some people to speculate power-play between the Clintons, the US-NK relationship is far more important.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 04:51 on August 4th, 2009

There will always be those that speculate and try to politicize these things. The important thing is that Clinton is in North Korea and hopefully gain the release of these two journalists.

Anonymously Given (not verified)

at 05:06 on August 4th, 2009

Seems like an extraordinarily high risk for disaster, given the air of hostility between the two nations.

I'm not sure how they cover that adequately.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 05:12 on August 4th, 2009

I think that Clinton has enough cloud in North Korea and a personal relationship with its leader that he just may be successful. It remains to be seen if it will defrost the relations with the North Korean regime. But hey, whatever works.

A. Tran

at 05:56 on August 4th, 2009

Some updates:

The English-language Web site of the official North Korean Central News Agency offers clues that the regime might be expect to discuss both issues. On the KCNA site on Tuesday morning, just beside the blaring headline (written in all capital letters, in extra large italic type), “BILL CLINTON ARRIVES HERE,” there is a special box with collections of reports on two subjects: “Nuclear Test; Trial of American Journalists.”

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 06:13 on August 4th, 2009

Thanks for this Pythiian. I think this shows the interest of the North Korean Regime in dealing with Bill Clinton.

Mary Richard

at 07:02 on August 4th, 2009

News out of Seoul, South Korea:

Former President Bill Clinton met Tuesday with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il on the first day of a surprise visit to Pyongyang, with the "exhaustive" talks covering a wide range of topics, state-run media said.
Clinton "courteously" conveyed a verbal message from President Barack Obama, the official Korean Central News Agency said in a report from Pyongyang. Kim expressed his thanks, and engaged Clinton in a "wide-ranging exchange of views on matters of common concern," the report said.

But Whitehouse spokesman Robert Gibbs is staying mum, for now:

"While this solely private mission to secure the release of two Americans is on the ground, we will have no comment. We do not want to jeopardize the success of former President Clinton's mission."

Pressed by reporters just now, Gibbs said, "obviously we're talking about something that's extremely sensitive."

Gibbs did say that the former president is NOT carrying any message to North Korea from President Obama. Note that statement reference to a "solely private mission."

"We will have more to say about this -- hopefully -- later on," Gibbs added.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 07:19 on August 4th, 2009

Thank you very much Blue Crush:). It sounds like it will be productive.

Spydermonkey

at 07:09 on August 4th, 2009

First, Billy Boy doesn't do things w/o Her knowing about it (I grew up in Arkansas, I know)

2nd Bill IS very good with people & has proven his abilities to deal with heads of state, if anyone can get good results out of N Korea, Bill can.

I wish him the best of luck :)

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 07:20 on August 4th, 2009

Thank you Spydermonkey. I agree with your assessment and a successful outcome with both the release of journalists and some dialogue, beyond rhetoric. of the nuclear issues would be welcome.

hidflect

at 07:56 on August 4th, 2009

Good of albertacowpoke to note the oddity of Mr. Clinton going in place of Ms. Clinton I've posted before on incongruities suggesting that these two "reporters" may not be as innocent as they seem but I think to post it again. It's pure idle speculation but maybe not implausible.

First; US intelligence people always have a "cover" don't they? Isn't the cover of a reporter just perfect? Even though it endangers true reporters' validity as unbiased spectators with this abuse, if so. Because I find it hard to imagine any press service would condone sending two female reporters into such an area with no crew, without authorisation and unescorted by local officials. Isn't the law there on EITHER side of the border that prior approval is required? If they don't like the law they should write about it, not break it. The "poor, hapless little darlings" story seems sugary and bogus to this ex-PR flack. What were they hoping for? That extra-special eye-witness testimony? Plenty of refugees from N. Korea in China to interview...

Which wing of maximum security do you think 2 North Korean reporters would spend the next 20 years if they were caught trudging over the USA/Canadian border without visa permits? And were is the howling outrage from the USA? This is a very low key visit. What if Iran held Americans? More like embarrassed silence till now to me.

Also coincidental that they work for an organisation belonging to Al Gore (if I've read right...) Isn't he a prominent ex-government employee? Not exactly The Philadelphia Enquirer, is it? So they got their press passes from the a guy who was the second highest government employee. And now Clinton's involved? I think they've bumped shoulders in the distant past, no? Remind me...

And the timing? They got caught just when N.Korea was about to launch a ballistic missile? Bit co-incidental innit? "But that's why the reporters go there", I hear some might cry. What is cutting across the border going to achieve in news about a rocket launch? The local population is famously ignorant of N. Korea's elite's intentions. No journalistic value at all as far as I can see. So why? I don't know - ask the CIA what they were doing. Plausible Deniability is their mantra of course...

The CIA needs all kinds of operatives. And if they can't possibly send an incursion/spotter team into a tightly controlled Stalinist regime like NK, they can operate at different levels. Mebbe sending 2 people who probably speak fluent Chinse and/or Korean and who can bluff their way through as journalists? Bit hard for a group of Navy Seals to wander about without getting noticed.

We don't know the whole story but one of 2 possibilities exist. They went across with fake credentials... or they went across with no credentials at all. Given that the border between NK and SK is the most heavily mined area in the world you'd think that people crossing over from China might've considered contacting the Chinese state authorities before going? I imagine (not verified) that you'd need special permission just to go about a 100 miles anywhere near that border so the whole "I knew I shoulda taken that left turn at Albuquerque!" wrong-way story doesn't wash really. I believe that was their first "story" when caught. Finally and again, what would've been the breathless news story resulting? Nothing new that I can see... Only one thing I'm sure of. We'll never find out what really went down, as usual.

J2B (not verified)

at 08:27 on August 4th, 2009

Reporters working for Current News which these two do, don't have a film crew like CNN might. They work very much on their own or with one or two others. Current have produced many videos about troubled spots. I think these reporters were trying to film N. Korea's escaping across the border into China, and hopefully eventually to S. Korea. They had permission to be in China but not N. Korea.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 08:28 on August 4th, 2009

Thanks for your comments hidflect.

158

at 08:24 on August 4th, 2009

very good report

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 08:27 on August 4th, 2009

Thanks very much 158.

marianmo

at 08:34 on August 4th, 2009

i think bill clinton will get the job done.ty for the post

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 08:37 on August 4th, 2009

It.s worth a try anyways.:)

t k kidwai

at 11:26 on August 5th, 2009

We need not speculate much.North Koreans are tough bargainers and won't release detainees without demands for some concessions.Release as gesture of goodwill shouldn't be expected of North Koreans in the backdrop of current hostilities between belligerent US and defiant North Korea.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 11:33 on August 4th, 2009

Defying all odds apparently they have now been pardoned and will be leaving with Bill Clinton.

hidflect

at 21:18 on August 4th, 2009

You've got to hand it to Bill, he has that "Factor X" in gallon barrels. He could charm the birds out of the trees, as they say.

Uwe Paschen

at 05:29 on August 5th, 2009

Battle won for NK! KO for US!!

Great propaganda management by NK.

The US did the right think though even if it lost face and the battle by helping NK with their Propaganda machine.

NK, is happy now, at least for a time.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 05:23 on August 5th, 2009

the girls won too. So did Bill

Uwe Paschen

at 05:28 on August 5th, 2009

No, they cost the tax payer a lot of money and took risks they should not have for the sake of a scoop.

Sorry, had it been two male Journalist they would still be rotting in jail and the World would say, well to bad and sorry for them, but they took the risk and knew the price of the glory as well as the consequences of the pain if cough.

The World felt sorry for two Woman and North Korea knew how to play this cart out rather well.

Michael Allsop (not verified)

at 08:44 on August 5th, 2009

The two American journalists should be really glad that this dude with the crown is not their fellow countryman because he sure doesn't seem to like women, journalists, and ...

Uwe Paschen

at 09:06 on August 5th, 2009

That has nothing to do with it.

I am glad they are free, however what about all the Journalist that have been detained around the globe and some for years now that no one seem to try to get out?

They are not working for Gore, have no high friends such as Clinton, are not Young Woman and not part of a propaganda game that plays on emotion of the public.

A 40 year old not so good looking Man Journalist does not get the coverage nor the sympathy then two young woman would.

That is not sexist but factual, A big difference.

You may want to google Journalist with out Borders or Amnesty International or even the UN and look up some facts.