Bill Clinton Reportedly Wins Freedom for 2 U.S. Journalists in N. Korea

Although his wife is usually the one making headlines about international relations these days, former President Bill Clinton put on his diplomat’s hat Tuesday, visiting North Korea in an attempt to negotiate the release of two American journalists jailed there.

Update: The North Korean media has reported that Clinton’s efforts were successful and that Kim Jong Il has ordered the release of journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee.

AP via Google News:

Clinton made a surprise trip to the North Korean capital to seek freedom for the journalists and met with Kim Jong Il, the ailing leader of the Stalinist regime. [White House spokesman Robert] Gibbs denied a North Korean news agency report that Clinton had delivered a verbal message from President Barack Obama.

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AP / Korean Central News Agency via Korea News Service

Former President Bill Clinton, right, meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, gesturing at left, in Pyongyang. At Clinton’s immediate right is John Podesta, former White House chief of staff. The others are unidentified.