国际英语新闻：DPRK TV reports Kim Jong Il, Bill Clinton meeting, photos released

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.

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.

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.