Seconds after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton departed for Nairobi Kenya on a diplomatic mission, her husband, former President Bill Clinton (center) chartered a private plane and took off for North Korea on what the White House described as a personal mission.

Laura Ling (L) and Euna Lee (R), reporters for Al Gore's Current TV, were detained by North Korea along the border with China in March. Accused of illegally entering the country and engaging in "hostile acts", the pair was sentenced to 12 years' hard labor in June.

Clinton’s mission to N. Korea resulted in pardoning of the pair of babes, both of whom were described by State Television as being extremely grateful to the former president. The trio was last seen smiling as the boarded the private plane.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The photo included with this article was edited in Photoshop to remove “red-eye” and to make other minor changes. It is the belief of the editorial staff that the intent or content of the photograph has not been otherwise altered.