North Korea Pardons US journalists
Published:Tuesday | August 4, 2009 | 5:10 PM
The two American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee, who were found guilty and sentenced to hard labour for entering North Korea illegally in March, have been pardoned.
The Korean Central News Agency said president Kim Jong-il has issued an order granting a special pardon to the two American journalists.
This news comes on the day that Former President Bill Clinton made an unannounced visit to North Korea on what was described as a private mission.
North Korean state media say Mr Clinton has left the country but it is not known if the journalists were with him.
Mr Clinton is the highest-profile American to visit North Korea since former secretary of state Madeleine Albright, in 2000.