Madeleine Albright and North Korea's leader, Kim Jong II, share a toast during dinner.
For U.S. leaders, North Korea had long been a forbidden land. No high-ranking U.S. official had ever set foot there. Last week Secretary of State Madeleine Albright paid a historic two-day visit to the country. She met with its leader, Kim Jong Il, and attended a huge rally.
The U.S. has seen North Korea as an enemy for 50 years. In 1950 North Korea invaded South Korea. U.S. soldiers helped South Korea fight the invasion. Today North Korea is a poor country. But it has the world’s fourth largest army. The U.S. wants North Korea to stop making missiles that can go long distances. Kim told Albright he would work to change the missile program.
Kim owns a satellite-TV dish and watches American shows. He is a big fan of basketball star Michael Jordan. Last week Albright gave Kim a basketball signed by Jordan.
Will relations between the two countries improve? The ball is now in Kim’s court