The Philippine Online Chronicles

The release of American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee through talks between former US president Bill Clinton with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il have sparked controversy about what the trade-off could have been.

Ling and Lee were arrested by North Korean authorities while filming a documentary about human trafficking near the North Korean border. They were sentenced to 12 years of hard labor.

The journalists' release was the result of weeks of quiet negotiations between the US State Department and North Korea, who eventually requested that Clinton, a popular personality, be sent as an envoy.

“We considered the request carefully,” said a senior administration official. “We tested directly with the North Koreans repeatedly. We sought and received North Korea's agreement in fact that a visit by President Clinton would secure the release of Ms. Ling and Ms. Lee.”

Analysts believe that Kim Jong Il's 'pardoning' of the journalists will pave the way for resumed talks between the two nations about North Korea's nuclear program.

“It could provide an opportunity to move forward on the nuclear issue,” said Victor Cha, former Asia chief at the US National Security Council. “The history with the North Koreans, as they have done the past months, is to put themselves out on a ledge. And they always need help getting off that ledge.”