Obama thanks Clinton for N. Korean mission

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama met with former President Bill Clinton Tuesday to thank him for his mission to North Korea, the White House said.

The meeting, to discuss the humanitarian mission to secure the release of two U.S. journalists who had been jailed after straying into North Korean territory, lasted for nearly 40 minutes.

Laura Ling, 32, and Euna Lee, 36, were convicted of "hostile acts" and sentenced to 12 years of hard labor.

The White House said Clinton described the process, including a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il. The North Koreans granted "special amnesty" to Ling and Lee, who returned to the United States with Clinton.

"President Obama said he was gratified that the Americans had been safely reunited with their families," a White House statement said. "After the meeting, President Obama invited President Clinton to the Oval Office to continue their conversation for another half hour."