The Price Of Freedom

Apparently all it takes to get some hostages freed from North Korea (let's be honest, they were hostages) is for the Big Dog to show up and tell a few jokes, so that he can be completely debased in the North Korean news.

North Korean President Kim Jong Il has pardoned and ordered the release of two U.S. journalists, state-run news agency KCNA said Wednesday.

The announcement came after former U.S. President Bill Clinton met with top North Korean officials in Pyongyang to appeal for the release of Laura Ling and Euna Lee, who had been arrested while reporting from the border between North Korea and China.

"Clinton expressed words of sincere apology to Kim Jong Il for the hostile acts committed by the two American journalists against the DPRK after illegally intruding into it," the news agency reported. "Clinton courteously conveyed to Kim Jong Il an earnest request of the U.S. government to leniently pardon them and send them back home from a humanitarian point of view.

"The meetings had candid and in-depth discussions on the pending issues between the DPRK and the U.S. in a sincere atmosphere and reached a consensus of views on seeking a negotiated settlement of them."

The report said Clinton then conveyed a message from President Obama "expressing profound thanks for this and reflecting views on ways of improving the relations between the two countries."

So Clinton looks like a hero to America, Kim Jong-Il looks like a hero to his people, and the hostages are freed to go home. I suppose in the big picture view it's a damn good thing to see those journalists of ours home. Maybe now North Korea will return to those six party talks.

...probably not, but hey. Next time, Big Dog should bring some Bojangles.

Still, diplomacy! It works.