Clinton's visit brings new hope for U.S.- DPRK dialogue

by Xinhua writer Zhao Yi

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Former U.S. President Bill Clinton returned home after his 20-hour visit to Pyongyang Wednesday with two American female journalists released by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

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.  (Xinhua/Korean Central News Agency)

The surprise visit, which was characterized by a high-profile meeting between the former U.S. president and DPRK top leader Kim Jong Il, was the most remarkable event in the U.S.- DPRK relations since Clinton sent his Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to Pyongyang in 2000.

Although the White House and State Department officials claimed that Clinton's visit was a "solely private mission," some analysts believe that when the tense relations between Washington and Pyongyang are hardly seen any improvement, it could be instrumental for the resumption of direct U.S.-DPRK talks.

Victor Cha, an expert on the DPRK at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Clinton's visit may have provided the DPRK with the "face" it needs to return to the negotiating table.

"In this sense, the visit offers an opportunity to lower the level of ongoing tension since the May nuclear tests and open a path to negotiations," said Cha, who is also a former Asia specialist at the National Security Council.