North Korea has released two US journalists sentenced to 12 years hard labour following a surprise visit by Bill Clinton.
It came after the former US President met Laura Ling and Euna Lee in what was described as a "very emotional" meeting. Pentagon sources say the pair - arrested while reporting on refugees fleeing the impoverished North - are flying back on his private plane.

During his visit, Mr Clinton met North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, who agreed to grant them a "special pardon".

According to North Korean media, the U-turn came after Mr Clinton "expressed words of sincere apology" for their behaviour.

The state-run Korean Central News Agency said Mr Clinton had "courteously" passed a verbal message to Jong Il from President Obama.

The North Korean leader then expressed his thanks and the two shared a "wide-ranging exchange of views".

But the White House insisted Mr Clinton did not carry a message from Mr Obama, and stressed it was a private visit.

Ling and Lee have been held in Pyongyang since March.

In June, a court sentenced them to "reform through labour" for illegal entry and an unspecified "grave crime".

Official media said Ling, 32, and Lee, 36, had admitted to a politically-motivated smear campaign.

The pair work for California-based Current TV, which was co-founded by Mr Clinton's vice president Al Gore.

The official media said they crossed the border illegally "for the purpose of making animation files to be used for an anti-DPRK (North Korea) smear campaign over its human rights issue".

In a statement, their families said they were "overjoyed" at the news of their release.

"We must thank all the people who have supported our families through this ordeal, it has meant the world to us.

"We are counting the seconds to hold Laura and Euna in our arms."

Mr Clinton's visit came at a time of heightened tension between the US and its allies and North Korea.

The communist regime's country's nuclear and missile tests have been condemned by Western states who insist they breached United Nations sanctions.

Mr Clinton is the highest profile American to visit North Korea since his own secretary of state Madeleine Albright in 2000.




Source: http://news.sky.com

It's a good thing that the yare released, but still North Korea should finally realize it's playing with fire.