Clinton briefs NSC on North Korea trip

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Former President Bill Clinton has briefed national security officials on his meeting with Korean leader Kim Jong II, the White House said Thursday.

Clinton, who spoke to the officials by phone, is to provide a more detailed account to President Barack Obama, but no meeting had been scheduled, spokesman Robert Gibbs said.

"There were some communications between the former president and the NSC (National Security Council) yesterday, and that will continue over the next several days," Gibbs said.

As for Obama's meeting with Clinton, Gibbs said, "Right now, we're just trying to coordinate the schedules of two rather busy men."

Asked if North Korea expected anything in return for its pardon and freeing of U.S. journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee, Gibbs said he had not heard of any.

Obama, Gibbs said, considered Clinton's trip a "humanitarian mission" distinct from the administration's relationship with and policies toward North Korea.

"This was a private humanitarian mission with only the goal of bringing back two journalists to safety," Gibbs said. "I don't read a lot of precedent into it."

Clinton's trip did nothing to change the Obama administration's view of North Korea's nuclear weapons policy and "provocative international actions" such as firing test missiles, Gibbs said.

"I think the administration has taken very strong action relating to and responding to the actions of the North Koreans," he said.