North Korea has pardoned two U.S. journalists who were
jailed in June for illegally entering the country from China.
State-run news agency KCNA announced the pardon after former U.S. President
Bill Clinton met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. Clinton went to North
Korea on a mission to negotiate the release of the two women.
Euna Lee and Laura Ling were arrested in March for illegally crossing into
North Korea over the Chinese border while reporting a news story. They also
were charged with committing hostile acts against the North Korean government.
In June they were sentenced to 12 years of hard labor.
The White House said it would not make public comments during Mr. Clinton's
visit, which it called a "solely private mission to secure the release of
the two Americans."