In the month of June this year, tho U.S female journalists were arrested by North Korean authorities for illegal border crossing and were convicted of “grave crimes” by Pyongyang. They had been handed a 12 years sentence in one of the most secured prison in North Korea.

In the light of this matter, the former President of the United States, Bill Clinton, arrived today in Pyongyang in an effort to secure the release of the two journalists. The visit has come at a time of heightened tensions between Pyongyang and Washington, concerning the recent show of military might by North Korea. Bill Clinton was greeted by the vice president of the North Korean assembly and Pyongyang’s chief nuclear negotiator, Kim Kye-gwan.

Both the journalists were employed by a media outlet that was co founded by Al Gore, the former U.S vice president. The journalists were apprehended by the North Korean authorities, while they were covering a story at the North Korea – China border. Some U.S officials believe that, North Korea would try to use the sentenced journalists as bargaining chips to ensure that the sanctions imposed over the communist state are revoked.

According to Yun Duk (Minister, Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security, South Korea),

“North Korea could come forward with the position that it would implement the September 19 (nuclear disarmament) statement and eventually enter nuclear talks with the United States.”

In this recent development, the United States has changed the tone of its request, as now, instead of asking North Korea to release the journalists on humanitarian grounds, the U.S Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, has requested Pyongyang to grant amnesty to the journalists and has stated that “everyone is very sorry”, about the incident.

Via Reuters.