# Why has the press forgotten that Bill Clinton met with Kim Jong Il in 2009?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-the-press-forgotten-that-bill-clinton-met-with-kim-jong-il-in-2009/815551
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [June 6, 2018, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-the-press-forgotten-that-bill-clinton-met-with-kim-jong-il-in-2009/815551 "2018-06-06T16:37:03Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2018, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-the-press-forgotten-that-bill-clinton-met-with-kim-jong-il-in-2009/815551/1 "2018-06-06T16:37:03Z")
The press keeps blathering on and on about a “historic” meeting with Kim and Trump. They act like the US found this guy under a rock.
Doesn’t any of these, pathetic excuses for “journalists” remember Bill Clinton and Kim Jong Il had extensive talks in 2009?
A wasted opportunity because Obama and Hillary (the Secretary of State) never bothered following up.
> **[Bill Clinton Visits North Korea](https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/bill-clinton-visits-north-korea/3/)**
>
> The Former President's Talks with North Korean Leader Kim Jong Il Led to a Pardon for Two Imprisoned U.S. Journalists
> [@](#):
>
> Former President Bill Clinton arrives in Pyongyang, North Korea, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009. After Clinton and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il engaged in “exhaustive” talks over a range of topics, Kim granted a pardon to Laura Ling and Euna Lee, the two U.S. journalists jailed in the country since March.
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### Author:  [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2018, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-the-press-forgotten-that-bill-clinton-met-with-kim-jong-il-in-2009/815551/2 "2018-06-06T16:47:08Z")
What are you talking about?
No SITTING US President has ever met with the leader of North Korea for a one on one meeting. That does make it unprecedented and historic. The Kim family has been trying for literally decades, as it would confer a certain amount of recognition and status.
Former presidents have, of course. Jimmy Carter was the first, back in the 90s.
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2018, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-the-press-forgotten-that-bill-clinton-met-with-kim-jong-il-in-2009/815551/3 "2018-06-06T16:49:25Z")
I remember the great work Carter did for Bill in Haiti. Averting a US invasion and possibly saving thousands of lives.
Bill’s visit to N Korea could have been important if the administration had followed up.
> **[President Carter Leads Delegation to Negotiate Peace With Haiti](https://www.cartercenter.org/news/documents/doc218.html)**
>
> The day after former President Jimmy Carter helped negotiate the agreement to avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti, The Los Angeles Times described him as a person with "a preternatural patience and an unshakable faith in his fellow man."
> [@](#):
>
> The day after former President Jimmy Carter helped negotiate the agreement to avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti, The Los Angeles Times described him as a person with “a preternatural patience and an unshakable faith in his fellow man.”
>
> But in the eyes of President Carter and The Carter Center, another factor was at work. The situation in Haiti exemplified how nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) like the Center can work with a government to prevent violent conflict and to promote peace and human rights.
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### Author:  [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2018, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-the-press-forgotten-that-bill-clinton-met-with-kim-jong-il-in-2009/815551/4 "2018-06-06T16:49:30Z")
You realize that Bill Clinton wasn’t president in 2009, right?
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2018, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-the-press-forgotten-that-bill-clinton-met-with-kim-jong-il-in-2009/815551/5 "2018-06-06T16:53:46Z")
Yes. That’s why I said Obama and Hillary failed to follow up in 09.
Bill cracked open the door. It was up to them to continue the dialogue.
Meetings with former US Presidents can be very important.
Carter especially has represented the US and negotiated some very difficult situations around the world.
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### Author:  [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2018, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-the-press-forgotten-that-bill-clinton-met-with-kim-jong-il-in-2009/815551/6 "2018-06-06T17:01:31Z")
> [@aceplace57](#):
>
> Yes. That’s why I said Obama and Hillary failed to follow up in 09.
Seriously? That’s a regime that has a notorious record for breaking nearly every agreement they’ve ever made.
Yes, Obama was willing to meet with Kim eventually but only if North Korea built up some trust by, say, not reneging every time they said they’d do something. George W Bush was the same way. No President is going to throw away a good opportunity but only if the other side is acting in good faith. And there’s never - to this very moment - been any indication North Korea has ever or will to the foreseeable future act in good faith.
That’s why no serious foreign policy expert thinks much of this upcoming “summit”. North Korea hasn’t given up anything (their nuclear test site was already falling apart when they “destroyed” it) but has still gotten a historic first meeting with POTUS. They’re getting free stuff and not giving anything up in return. That’s pure win for them. They even get to make the US bend over backwards while doing so and eventually will make the US look foolish when they inevitably get up to their usual shenanigans.
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### Author:  [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2018, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-the-press-forgotten-that-bill-clinton-met-with-kim-jong-il-in-2009/815551/7 "2018-06-06T17:04:56Z")
You fail to understand the culture.
In eastern cultures, foreign leaders coming to your nation, to your court is/(was historically) seen as them bowing before you and recognizing your superior position. Hence the focus on meeting in neutral spaces.
Obama did not ‘follow up’ because he was the only president in the last 40 years smart enough to not play the game of paying off the North Koreans in aid and concessions in order to get meetings and “negotiations” that would never produce anything.
A trap which egomaniacal Trump immediately fell straight into.
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2018, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-the-press-forgotten-that-bill-clinton-met-with-kim-jong-il-in-2009/815551/8 "2018-06-06T17:08:38Z")
I don’t expect much from the Trump Kim Summit.
I get annoyed that none of todays “journalists” has even mentioned the 09 meeting with former President Clinton and Kim II.
Journalists should at least set the current summit in historical context. Report on previous meetings with high ranking Americans. I don’t recall Carter going over there. But that sounds like something he probably did.
Remember the 5 W’s? Who,What,Where,When,Why and How
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### Author:  [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2018, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-the-press-forgotten-that-bill-clinton-met-with-kim-jong-il-in-2009/815551/9 "2018-06-06T17:17:32Z")
> [@aceplace57](#):
>
> I don’t expect much from the Trump Kim Summit.
>
> I get annoyed that none of todays “journalists” has even mentioned the 09 meeting with former President Clinton and Kim II.
>
> Journalists should at least set the current summit in historical context. Report on previous meetings with high ranking Americans. I don’t recall Carter going over there. But that sounds like something he probably did.
>
> Remember the 5 W’s? Who,What,Where,When,Why and How
This article was from March 2018… [Some prominent Americans who have met with North Korean leaders - ABC News](https://abcnews.go.com/International/prominent-americans-met-north-korean-leaders/story?id=53635089)
Literally entitled “Some prominent Americans who have met with North Korean leaders”
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2018, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-the-press-forgotten-that-bill-clinton-met-with-kim-jong-il-in-2009/815551/10 "2018-06-06T17:23:02Z")
I hadn’t seen that article. It’s well researched.
Glad there’s still at least one good journalist still working today. 😉
Sometimes I wonder about the future of the 4th estate.
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### Author:  [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2018, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-the-press-forgotten-that-bill-clinton-met-with-kim-jong-il-in-2009/815551/11 "2018-06-06T17:23:07Z")
> [@aceplace57](#):
>
> I don’t expect much from the Trump Kim Summit.
>
> I get annoyed that none of todays “journalists” has even mentioned the 09 meeting with former President Clinton and Kim II.
>
> Journalists should at least set the current summit in historical context. Report on previous meetings with high ranking Americans. I don’t recall Carter going over there. But that sounds like something he probably did.
>
> Remember the 5 W’s? Who,What,Where,When,Why and How
They have mentioned this, just not in every single news article. Does it need to be repeated in every single news article to be sure that you are aware of this information?
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### Author:  [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2018, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-the-press-forgotten-that-bill-clinton-met-with-kim-jong-il-in-2009/815551/12 "2018-06-06T17:24:41Z")
> [@aceplace57](#):
>
> I hadn’t seen thst one.
>
> Glad there’s still at least one good journalist still working today.
I googled “Bill Clinton met with North Korea” it was the very top hit. It was not the only hit.
Perhaps the next time you get frustrated by something, a little research first to make sure you are right, is in order. Might save you some unnecessary angst.
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2018, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-the-press-forgotten-that-bill-clinton-met-with-kim-jong-il-in-2009/815551/13 "2018-06-06T17:29:17Z")
That’s what I get for watching CNN.
ABC still has good reporting. Thank you for the link.
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2018, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-the-press-forgotten-that-bill-clinton-met-with-kim-jong-il-in-2009/815551/14 "2018-06-06T17:32:39Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#):
>
> They have mentioned this, just not in every single news article. Does it need to be repeated in every single news article to be sure that you are aware of this information?
Actually it does, if they want to inform the public.
An article back in March can easily be missed by millions of viewers. Most viewers don’t seek out news with google searches. I often do, but I’m a news junkie. 😉
Perhaps the networks will ramp up news coverage as the summit date draws closer.
A joint interview with Carter & Clinton discussing N Korea would be very interesting. A 20/20 special would get a wide audience.
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### Author:  [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2018, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-the-press-forgotten-that-bill-clinton-met-with-kim-jong-il-in-2009/815551/15 "2018-06-06T17:37:23Z")
> [@aceplace57](#):
>
> That’s what I get for watching CNN.
>
> ABC still has good reporting. Thank you for the link.
I’m not trying to hash on you, but the I reiterate my pint about doing some background before making assertions. Here are two CNN articles that discuss Bill Clinton and other presidents and why they didn’t go To NK as sitting presidents. This is the kind of context you are looking for.
From yesterday: [https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/04/asia/kim-family-trump-summit-intl/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/04/asia/kim-family-trump-summit-intl/index.html)
> **[Trump isn’t the first US President to get a North Korean invite. | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/09/politics/north-korea-trump-obama-bush-clinton/index.html)**
>
> No US president has agreed to sit down with a North Korean leader – until now.
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2018, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-the-press-forgotten-that-bill-clinton-met-with-kim-jong-il-in-2009/815551/16 "2018-06-06T17:41:32Z")
I watch CNN regularly and never saw those segments. It’s hard to see everything on a 24 hour news channel.
Point taken. I should Google more.
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### Author:  [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2018, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-the-press-forgotten-that-bill-clinton-met-with-kim-jong-il-in-2009/815551/17 "2018-06-06T17:59:12Z")
> [@aceplace57](#):
>
> I don’t expect much from the Trump Kim Summit.
It already produced exactly [what Kim wanted.](http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-alice-marie-johnson-kardashian-trump-20180606-story.html)
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### Author:  [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2018, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-the-press-forgotten-that-bill-clinton-met-with-kim-jong-il-in-2009/815551/18 "2018-06-06T18:22:17Z")
I’m deeply ashamed that I had to click the link before I understood.
Regards,
Shodan
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### Author:  [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2018, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-the-press-forgotten-that-bill-clinton-met-with-kim-jong-il-in-2009/815551/19 "2018-06-06T18:27:23Z")
I went to the hardware store yesterday and there was a Toro 22# self-propelled mower with a 159ccm engine and they offered a 3 year warranty for $50 extra, I don’t know if it’s worth the money.
There are lots of lawnmowers at the store.
I’ve read that Kim Jong Il used to make King Jong Un mow the lawn when he was a boy, but he would have to use a reel mower. I think it builds character to use a manual mower like that.
It also builds muscles, it’s important for a young man to be strong.
The propblem with the press is that they’ve forgotten how to be strong. They have to be strong, and tough.
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### Author:  [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2018, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-the-press-forgotten-that-bill-clinton-met-with-kim-jong-il-in-2009/815551/20 "2018-06-06T18:35:52Z")
BTW; if you’re on Twitter, check out @DPRK\_News. It’s labeled as “Official News feed of Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea”, but I believe it is a parody account. Hilarious as all get out.
Great posts about Giuliani and Brooklyn BBQ today.
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