Clinton welcomes N.K. envoy; Kim's message delivered to Clinton

North Korean Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-Il is reported to have delivered his personal message to U.S. President Bill Clinton, calling for their joint efforts to terminate the long-standing standoff between the two countries and improve bilateral relations in pursuit of reconciliation and peace.

North Korean First Vice Defense Commission Chairman Jo Myong-Rok, visiting the U.S. as Kim's special envoy, paid a courtesy call on the U.S. president at the White House Tuesday, delivered the Kim¡¯s message to Clinton and exchanging views on North Korea-U.S. relations for an hour.

Earlier in the day, Jo visited U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and discussed a wide range of issues pending between the two countries, including the removal of North Korea from the list of the terrorism sponsoring states and the North's missile proliferation and nuclear freeze problems. Arriving in Washington aboard a United Airlines jet on Monday morning, Jo said in his arrival statement that he was expected to exchange candid views with U.S. government leaders and do his best for the two countries to liquidate the deep-rooted mutual distrust and thus bring about epochal progress in their bilateral relations.