(lat) Two imprisoned American TV journalists have been pardoned by North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, the Associated Press has reported, and they have been ordered released during the current visit of former U.S. President Bill Clinton. The "special pardon," which news agencies said was announced by North Korean media, came after Clinton negotiated with North Korean officials in Pyongyang. Citing unidentified sources in the South Korean government, Yonhap news agency said Clinton may head back to Washington less than a day after arriving in Pyongyang. North Korean state media reported that Clinton "expressed thanks [for the pardon] and delivered an oral message from Barack Obama on improving relations between the two countries," according to Yonhap. The North Korean account said Clinton had "delivered a sincere request from the U.S. government for a pardon and return [of the two journalists] from a humanitarian aspect." And it said Clinton had "expressed a deep apology that the [two female reporters] entered the country illegally and committed hostile acts against the republic." The North Korean media said issues had been discussed in a "serious atmosphere but also frankly and in depth," from which the two sides "agreed to resolve problems through dialogue."

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