North Korea pardons US reporters

North Korea pardons US reporters



North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has issued a special pardon to two detained US journalists, the country's state news agency reports. Laura Ling and Euna Lee had been found guilty of entering illegally in March.
The news comes on the day that former US President Bill Clinton made a surprise visit to Pyongyang on what was described as a private mission.
Mr Clinton is the highest-profile American to visit since ex-secretary of state Madeleine Albright in 2000.
"Kim Jong-il issued an order... granting a special pardon to the two American journalists who had been sentenced to hard labour," the official North Korean News Agency (KCNA) said in a statement.

Wana habari wawili waliofungwa Nchini Korea Kaskazini wanatarajiwa kurudi US Jumatano jioni....Juhudi binafsi za Pres.Clinton akishirikiana na baadhi ya Maafisa wa Utawala wa Obama . wamefanikiwa kwa masaa machache toka kufika Pyong Yang kumshauri Kamaradi Kim Jong Il kuwaachia Laura Ling (32) na Euna Lee (36) ambao walihukumiwa kifungo cha miaka 12 na kazi ngumu Jela,toka mwezi machi mwaka huu.Clinton alimuomba msamaha Kim kwa kitendo cha Waandishi hao kuvuka mpaka kutoka Korea kusini.

Kwa maneno yake Clinton alimpa Komrade Kim Salaam kutoka kwa Rais barack Obama kama shukrani kwa kuwaachia Wamarekani hao,Pamoja na watu wengine Rais Clinton aliongozana na aliyekuwa Mkuu wa utawala -White House Bwana John Podesta.Rais Clinton anatarajiwa kuwasili New York Muda wowote Jumanne Jioni.

Imetafsiriwa na Okumu Ng'itu kutoka AP.

AP
Updated 12:03 a.m. ET Aug. 5, 2009

SEOUL, South Korea - Former President Bill Clinton brought two freed U.S. journalists out of North Korea early Wednesday following rare talks with reclusive leader Kim Jong Il, who pardoned the women sentenced to hard labor for entering the country illegally.

Euna Lee and Laura Ling were heading back to the U.S. with Clinton, his spokesman Matt McKenna said, less than 24 hours after the former U.S. leader landed in the North Korean capital on a private, humanitarian trip to secure their release.

The women, dressed in short-sleeved shirts and jeans, appeared healthy as they climbed the steps to the plane and shook hands with Clinton before getting into the jet, APTN footage in Pyongyang showed. Clinton waved, put his hand over his heart and then saluted.