Jimmy Carter to Travel to North Korea
- 14 years ago
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is expected to travel to North Korea within days to win the release of an American held prisoner there. In 1994 Carter was able to sooth North Korea's then leader to join talks with the U.S. on its nuclear ambitions.
Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter will be traveling to North Korea sometime in the next couple of days to negotiate the release of an American held prisoner there.
Carter will make the trip as a private citizen on behalf of Aijalon Mahli Gomes.
Gomes is serving a sentence of eight years hard labor after being convicted of illegal entry in April.
The visit will take place amid heightened tensions on the peninsula after the sinking of a South Korean warship -- which Seoul blames on the North.
North Korea says it's willing to return to nuclear disarmament talks, but both Washington and Seoul have said Pyongyang must first admit responsibility for the sinking of the warship.
Carter's visit could help improve the atmosphere.
Reports say that Carter may take his wife and daughter on the trip.
Carter has personal experience dealing with North Korea. On a 1994 trip, he crossed the border into Pyongyang to meet with the then North Korean leader Kim Il Sung and persuaded him to join talks about its nuclear weapons ambitions.
Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter will be traveling to North Korea sometime in the next couple of days to negotiate the release of an American held prisoner there.
Carter will make the trip as a private citizen on behalf of Aijalon Mahli Gomes.
Gomes is serving a sentence of eight years hard labor after being convicted of illegal entry in April.
The visit will take place amid heightened tensions on the peninsula after the sinking of a South Korean warship -- which Seoul blames on the North.
North Korea says it's willing to return to nuclear disarmament talks, but both Washington and Seoul have said Pyongyang must first admit responsibility for the sinking of the warship.
Carter's visit could help improve the atmosphere.
Reports say that Carter may take his wife and daughter on the trip.
Carter has personal experience dealing with North Korea. On a 1994 trip, he crossed the border into Pyongyang to meet with the then North Korean leader Kim Il Sung and persuaded him to join talks about its nuclear weapons ambitions.