PYONGYANG, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Kim Jong Il, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), met with visiting U.S. former President Bill Clinton on Tuesday, the official central television reported, releasing several photos of the meeting.

    According to the report, Clinton conveyed a verbal message from the U.S. President Barack Obama to Kim. But the White House denied that Clinton carried a message from Obama.

Photo released by North Korean official news agency KCNA shows former US president Bill Clinton (L, seated) and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-Il (R, seated) posing for a picture in Pyongyang on August 4, 2009. Kim Jong-Il met Clinton here on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Korean Central News Agency) Photo Gallery>>>

    The report said that Kim expressed thanks and welcomed Clinton's visit to the DPRK and "had an exhaustive conversation with him (Clinton)."

    The two sides widely exchanged views on the issues of common concern, it said.

North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il (Front L) talks as former U.S. President Bill Clinton (Front R) looks on in Pyongyang in this photo released by North Korean official news agency KCNA on August 4, 2009. Kim Jong-Il met Clinton here on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    The DPRK leader also hosted a welcome dinner for Clinton in Paekhwawon State Guest House on Tuesday evening, which "proceeded in a cordial atmosphere," it added.

    DPRK's first vice foreign minister Kang Sok Ju and Department Director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party Kim Yang Gon also attended the talks.

    Clinton arrived in Pyongyang earlier in the day. He was believed to come for the release of the two journalists who were captured on March 17 and were sentenced to 12 years of "labor reform" in June.



White House declines to comment on Bill Clinton's visit to Pyongyang

    WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. government on Tuesday declined to make comment on former President Bill Clinton's visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), saying it is a "solely private" mission to secure the release of two American journalists.

    "While this solely private mission to secure the release of the two Americans is on the ground, we will have no comment," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a statement, adding "we do not want to jeopardize the success of former President Clinton's mission." Full story

DPRK top leader Kim Jong-il meets Bill Clinton: Yonhap

    SEOUL, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Democratic People's Republic of Korea(DPRK) top leader Kim Jong-il has met with visiting former U.S. President Bill Clinton in Pyongyang on Tuesday and received a verbal message from U.S. President Barack Obama, Pyongyang's state media reported, according to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency.

    Kim hosted a dinner for Clinton at the state guest house, reported Radio Pyongyang and the Korean Central Broadcasting Station. Full story