Update: A “press release” from the KCNA.

The DPRK visit of Clinton and his party will contribute to deepening the understanding between the DPRK and the U.S. and building the bilateral confidence.

Uhhh, yeah.

Update: ROK Drop has the scoop! The journalists have been freed. This is certainly good news. I am very curious to hear their story, from the trial (which I have never seen any anecdotes of), to the prison itself to their side of the story on how they were captured.

Of course, they will need time to recuperate, spend time with their family and more. More updates should be on the way soon.

Update: According to Yonhap, Bill Clinton met with the reclusive leader, Kim Jong Il, supposedly sending a message from President Obama, but the White House denies this:

SEOUL, Aug. 4 (Yonhap) — North Korean leader Kim Jong-il met with visiting former U.S. President Bill Clinton in Pyongyang on Tuesday and received a “verbal message” from the U.S. president, the North’s state media said.

[...]

The White House, however, denied sending a message through Clinton. “That’s not true,” its spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters.

Now with video!

Original Post: (See ROK Drop) Bill Clinton finally made his way to Pyongyang and time will tell what the details of the visit will become. One thing I can be certain, is the cost of releasing these women will be high. After all, Kim does not conduct cheap diplomacy.

WASHINGTON — Former President Bill Clinton went to North Korea on Monday to negotiate the release of two American television journalists who were sentenced to 12 years of hard labor for illegally entering North Korean territory, a person who was briefed on the mission said.

Mr. Clinton landed in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, early Tuesday morning local time, Central TV, a North Korean station, reported. The White House declined to comment.

I also cannot wait to see the KCNA’s version of events. Perhaps it will be something along the lines of how he was very sorry for encroaching the sovereignty of the mighty and invincible Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, and how great Kim Jong Il is. Yes, it is par for the course. The question remains; is a little money and some propaganda fodder worth the release of these women?

I believe it is a good trade-off considering the circumstances at the moment.

Updates should be forthcoming soon. Stay tuned.

More at One Free Korea

Now with even more video:

Update: The women speak

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