Kim Jong-il pardons American journalists: Report

September 10th, 2009 Report: Kim Jong Il healthy says NKorea No. 2TOKYO — North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is in good health and has not named his third son as his successor, the communist country's No.

August 15th, 2009 Civil rights figure's son will seek Ala. pardonsMONTGOMERY, Ala.

August 9th, 2009 National security adviser: Kim Jong Il in chargeWASHINGTON —President Barack Obama's national security adviser says it appears that North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is still in charge. White House adviser James Jones says former President Bill Clinton passed no official messages and made no promises during his mission last week to bring home two American journalists last week.

August 5th, 2009 Richardson: Freed journalists a win for both sidesWASHINGTON — Gov. Bill Richardson says both the United States and North Korea can cite victory from the high-level talks that sprang two American journalists from jail in the reclusive communist country.

August 5th, 2009 LOS ANGELES - Former US President Bill Clinton arrived early Wednesday morning at Burbank Airport near Los Angeles, California, after his mission gaining the release of two pardoned American journalists who had been detained since March in North Korea. Clinton, Laura Ling and Euna Lee had flown from Pyongyjang after the ex-president's previously unannounced 20-hour visit during which he met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, who pardoned the two journalists.

August 5th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US former president Bill Clinton left North Korea Wednesday morning with two American journalists who had been detained since March in the communist country, CNN reported. Clinton, Laura Ling and Euna Lee were on their way to Los Angeles, where the two women are to meet their families, CNN quoted Clinton spokesman Matt McKenna as saying.

August 5th, 2009 SEOUL - An editorial in a South Korean daily has warned that North Korea could use the release of two American journalists as a direct bargaining chip with the United States in the near future. "Regardless of what the US administration says, the Clinton-Kim meeting signals the start of direct bargaining...

August 5th, 2009 PYONGYANG - The two American journalists pardoned by North Korean leader Kim Jong Il left the country Wednesday aboard a chartered plane carrying the homebound former US president Bill Clinton. Clinton arrived unexpectedly in Pyongyang Tuesday and met the North Korean leader to secure the release of two journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, who were arrested in March for sneaking into the communist country illegally.

August 4th, 2009 Reporters' families overjoyed by N. Korea pardonsSAN FRANCISCO — The families of journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee say they are overjoyed the North Korean government has pardoned the two women and is sending them home.

August 4th, 2009 SEOUL - Visiting former US president Bill Clinton Tuesday met North Korea's ailing leader Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang and conveyed a verbal message from US President Barack Obama, South Korea's state-run Yonhap news agency reported. Kim has hosted a dinner for Clinton at the state guesthouse, according to Radio Pyongyang and Korean Central Broadcasting Station.

August 4th, 2009 SEOUL - North Korean leader Kim Jong Il granted pardons to two American journalists who have been held in the country for months, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported early Wednesday, shortly after former US president Bill Clinton arrived in the Stalinist state to secure their release. Clinton made an unannounced visit to North Korea Tuesday and met with Kim to discuss the status of the two journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee.

August 4th, 2009 Gibbs: journalists' safety is uppermost concernWASHINGTON — White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says the administration is not commenting on former President Bill Clinton's mission to North Korea for fear it could undermine his attempt to win the freedom of two imprisoned American journalists. Gibbs said: he hoped to have more comment "at a later point." At the daily White House briefing Tuesday, Gibbs said: "Our focus right now is on the safety of the two journalists." 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.

June 10th, 2009 TOKYO - The eldest son of Kim Jong Il, North Korea's supreme leader, has confirmed that his youngest brother, Kim Jong Un, 26, will succeed their father as the Head of State. Months of rumours and speculation were confirmed today when Kim Jong Nam, the first son of the country's "Dear Leader", told Japanese television that his half-brother, Kim Jong Un had been designated heir apparent.

June 3rd, 2009 LONDON - North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has been revealed to have a passion for live fish, which he devours with gusto morning, noon and night. The 68-year-old tyrant is said to wash them down with fine French wines and brandies, even though two million of his subjects have died of starvation already.

January 14th, 2009 SEOUL - North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has tapped his third son to be his successor and sent his nomination to the leadership of the ruling party, according to reports Thursday. The ailing communist leader 'delivered a directive around Jan 8 that he has named (Kim) Jong-un as his successor to the leadership of the Workers' Party,' South Korean news agency Yonhap quoted a well-informed source as saying.