Thaindian News

By Madhuri Dey
Aug 26, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Early on Wednesday morning, Jimmy Carter reached North Korea with a humanitarian mission to free an American prisoner who has been sentenced to eight years hard labor imprisonment in North Korea for illegally entering the nation through China. The former President of United States, Jimmy Carter was welcomed at the Pyongyang airport with smiles and salutes from officials. As per reports, the former president was received at the airport by Kim Kye-gwan, a senior North Korean diplomat. Jimmy Carter is visiting the Communist country with his wife.

According to reports, the Washington officials have maintained that the present tour of Jimmy Carter is a private one which he had undertaken with an aim to negotiate the release of a Boston resident Aijalon Mahli Gomes, who was sentenced eight years imprisonment in April this year. The officials have maintained that the former President is not representing United States in any ways in this particular visit.

However, many political analysts have voiced that the visit of Jimmy Carter to North Korea will help to break the ice between the two countries. United States for decades has helped its ally South Korea with troops, and it is due to the threat of these troops reportedly that North Korea wants to develop its nuclear weapon. According to many analysts, private trips like that of Jimmy Carter and former president Bill Clinton offer opportunity for unofficial diplomacy between the two countries. Reports claims that On Wednesday, Jimmy Carter sat for a meeting with top North Korean official Kim Yong and sources reported that the discussions were cordial. However, it is still not known whether Jimmy Carter has been able to convince the officials for the release of Aijalon Mahli Gomes.