A private trip?

From the Korean Central News Agency - August 5, 2009:

A report on Former U.S. President Bill Clinton's visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is as follows:

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and his party visited the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from August 4 to 5.

Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the National Defense Commission of the DPRK, met with Bill Clinton and his party...

Clinton expressed words of sincere apology to Kim Jong Il for the hostile acts committed by the two American journalists against the DPRK after illegally intruding into it. Clinton courteously conveyed to Kim Jong Il an earnest request of the U.S. government to leniently pardon them and send them back home from a humanitarian point of view.

The meetings had candid and in-depth discussions on the pending issues between the DPRK and the U.S. in a sincere atmosphere and reached a consensus of views on seeking a negotiated settlement of them.

Kim Jong Il issued an order of the Chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission on granting a special pardon to the two American journalists...

Clinton courteously conveyed a verbal message of U.S. President Barack Obama expressing profound thanks for this and reflecting views on ways of improving the relations between the two countries.

The measure taken to release the American journalists is a manifestation of the DPRK's humanitarian and peace-loving policy.

The DPRK visit of Clinton and his party will contribute to deepening the understanding between the DPRK and the U.S. and building the bilateral confidence.

From the Central North Korean News Agency - August 4, 2009:

General Secretary Kim Jong Il today met with former U.S. President Bill Clinton and his party on a visit to the DPRK.

Bill Clinton courteously conveyed a verbal message of U.S. President Barack Obama to Kim Jong Il.

Kim Jong Il expressed thanks for this. He welcomed Clinton's visit to the DPRK and had an exhaustive conversation with him.

There was a wide-ranging exchange of views on the matters of common concern.

However, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs denied that Clinton had conveyed a message from Obama to Kim Jong Il. Gibbs insisted Clinton's trip was a private one - which prompted Thomas Kim, executive director of Korea Policy Institute, to respond, that's "preposterous, there's no other way to say it."

The Washington Post adds the following tidbit:

Although the White House and the State Department steadfastly insisted that the former president... was on a "private humanitarian mission," the trip came about only after weeks of back-channel conversations involving... senior White House and State Department officials, said sources involved in the planning...

"Weeks of back-channel conversations, involving... senior White House and State Department officials."

A "private" trip. Heh.