Posted on 08/04/2009 12:02:52 AM PDT by bruinbirdman
Former US president Bill Clinton is understood to have landed in Pyongyang earlier today for a surprise visit to North Korea as relations between the United States and the regime continue to sour and mystery surrounds the health of its enigmatic "Dear Leader".
The regime's mouthpiece, the Korean Central News Agency, said in a bulletin this afternoon that Mr Clinton had been greeted at Pyongyang's airport by two senior government figures - the vice president of the presidium of North Korea's parliament and the vice foreign minister.
"A little girl presented a bouquet to Bill Clinton," ran the rest of the report.
Diplomatic sources suggest that Mr Clinton, who is the highest-profile American to visit North Korea since Madeleine Albright's trip nine years ago, may be granted an audience with Kim Jong Il as early as today.
Reports from Seoul based on South Korean intelligence suggest that the former US president will use the two-day trip to "negotiate robustly" for the release of two American journalists currently serving 12 years of hard labour in a North Korean prison.
Laura Ling and Euna Lee, who were both working for a television company run by Mr Clinton's former vice president, Al Gore, were arrested for a "grave", though unspecified, crime on the North Korea-China border earlier this year.
The two were imprisoned on a charge of committing "hostile acts" and for plotting to produce a smear campaign over human rights issues.
Although the visit is thought to have taken place with the blessing of the White House, Mr Clinton's party is not thought to include government officials from Washington.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
No slap in the face that The Obammunist sends Wee Willie to visit Lil' Kim instead of Pilloried?
More likely Bill arrived for a pay check.
This is bill’s game. obama is bill’s boy. o didn’t “send” billy jeff. billy jeff told o he was going.
I never thought I would be thankful for Beezlebubba for anything, but if he manages to get those gals out, I will get down on my hands and knees and give prayers of thanks.
I hope he didn’t have to dodge any sniper bullets after he landed.
Yeah, I agree. And yet we’ll never know what he gave in exchange will we.
ditto.. agreed.
Is this Bill’s basketball and chocolate moment?
That account is pure NYT BS!
I heard today on both NPR and Fox radio that Clinton was there for a ceremonial display and would escort the two hostages back to the USA. The release had been successfully "negotiated" prior to Clinton's arrival.
Have a cigar.
Bill had to go ‘splain to them that his wife lectures him as if he is a child... just like she did to them... they need to ignore her... just like he does.
The so called reporterettes are Al Gore Greenie Commies who went to visit Communist Korea through the back door of Red China.
Reagan, Bush I and Bush II said no one on one talks with N. Korea.
The answer has been no except for the Klintoon administration, and now The Obammunist administration.
Let Red China beg for their journo comrades.
yitbos
For accuracy’s sake: NYT is not the same as the London Times, from which this article came. My bad.
x42 was well paid by chicom money .... this should be interesting.
Bill Clinton in North Korea.... please keep him!!!!!
Bill would not be going to NK unless they already had a deal to free the Americans.
and on this note- Hilary wouldn’t be going to Kenya unless the BC were going to be suppressed?
any takers?
Hide the interns. . . . .
my other thought was Bill & Hil on going abroad was to pre-empt disaster not only from the NK’s but from Kenya (Kenya to become explosively demanding for american $$ if their bammie is not recognized as the original homeboy?)
he’s probably there to get a “cheap massage”
Regardless, I’m sure the trip will conclude with happy ending.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.