Former U.S. president Clinton arrives in DPRK

PYONGYANG, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Former U.S. President Bill Clinton arrived in Pyongyang, the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), on Tuesday.

Visiting former U.S. President Bill Clinton shakes hands with Yang Hyong Sop, vice president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the  Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), in Pyongyang, capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), on Aug. 4, 2009. Clinton arrived here on Tuesday, but did not answer any questions asked by reporters. (Xinhua/Zhang Binyang)

Clinton was greeted by Yang Hyong Sop, vice president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's

Assembly, and Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan after his chartered plane touched down at the Pyongyang Sunan International Airport at 12:00 p.m. local time (0300 GMT).

A DPRK girl presented a bouquet of flowers to the former U.S. president.

Clinton did not answer any questions asked by reporters and left the airport immediately. The DPRK had toughened security for Clinton's arrival, with policemen blocking the road 8 km away from the airport.

DPRK officials also declined to reveal the purpose and schedule of his visit, but South Korea's Yonhap news agency said the former U.S. president came here for negotiations to seek the release of two detained American journalists.