Kim Jong-il pardons American journalists after Bill Clinton's visit: KCNA

SEOUL, Aug. 5 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has granted a special
pardon to two American journalists held for illegally entering North Korea on a
reporting tour, North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency said Wednesday.

"Kim Jong Il issued an order of the Chairman of the DPRK National Defence
Commission on granting a special pardon to the two American journalists who had
been sentenced to hard labor in accordance with Article 103 of the Socialist
Constitution and releasing them," the report said.
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, now in Pyongyang to seek their release,
"courteously conveyed a verbal message of U.S. President Barack Obama expressing
profound thanks for this and reflecting views on ways of improving the relations
between the two countries," the report said.
hdh@yna.co.kr
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