Surprise visit

North Korea's state new agency confirmed that Bill Clinton arrived in Pyongyang, where he was greeted by officials. According to media reports, the former US president will try to secure the release of two journalists who were arrested while working on a story near the North Korean border with China and convicted of "grave crimes."

The official North Korean Central News Agency said on Tuesday that among the officials meeting Clinton at the airport was Kim Kye Gwan, the country's chief nuclear negotiator.

The visit comes at a time of increasing militancy in the isolated country, which has walked away from talks aimed at ending its nuclear ambitions and which analysts say is caught in a succession debate.

Euna Lee and Laura Ling, two journalists working for Current TV, were arrested near North Korea's border with China and were sentenced last month to 12 years' hard labor. They were accused of illegal entry and being "bent on slander."

Current TV is a media outlet co-founded by former US Vice President Al Gore.

Journalist Ling told her sister by telephone that she and Lee had broken North Korean law. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the former first lady, has said "everyone is very sorry" about the incident and urged Pyongyang to grant the women amnesty.

US officials fear North Korea wants to use the two women as bargaining chips as it tries to resist international pressure to end its arms program, including missile and nuclear tests.

Some analysts have said they hope Clinton's visit could lead to a return to dialog between Pyongyang and the international community.

The North has declared dead six-party talks - including the two Koreas, China, the US, Japan and Russia - on reining in its nuclear ambitions, but has made overtures in recent weeks seeking direct negotiations with Washington.

jam/AP/Reuters
Editor: Nancy Isenson