The story behind Clinton’s trip to North Korea

Two senior Obama administration officials described on background how former President Bill Clinton’s mission to Pyongyang to secure the release of two U.S. journalists imprisoned by North Korea evolved: President Obama never spoke directly with former President Clinton about this issue, the officials said. During a phone call with their families in mid-July, the journalists told their relatives that they had been informed by the North Koreans that they would be willing to grant them amnesty if an envoy like former President Clinton would come to Pyongyang to secure their release

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Costa Rica re-establishes ties with Cuba

The president of Costa Rica announced Wednesday that he is re-establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba more than 47 years after one of his predecessors severed them. “The time has arrived for direct and open dialogue, for official and normal relations that should permit us to tackle our agreements and our disagreements, talking with ourselves openly and with sincerity,” President Oscar Arias said in a written statement

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