Bill Clinton sought approval for N.K.-related speech, but rejected: report
WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 (Yonhap) -- Former U.S. President Bill Clinton had sought State Department approval for a speech "related to North Korea" for money in 2012 when his wife, Hillary Clinton, was in office, but the department rejected the idea, a news report said Friday.
Citing State Department emails, ABC News reported that Bill Clinton and his Clinton Foundation tried to get approval for invitations related to two of the most repressive countries in the world -- North Korea and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
It was when Hillary Clinton was in office as secretary of state.
The emails show just how far Bill Clinton was willing to go to earn those lucrative fees -- seeking approval for appearances with ties to two of the most brutal countries in the world, the report said.
It was unclear, however, what exactly the invitation related to the North was, including whether it was an invitation to visit the communist nation for a speech. The report also said there is no further explanation of what the North Korea-related event entailed.
Bill Clinton is known for making a lot of money through speeches. The ABC report said he earned speaking fees around the globe totaling more than $48 million while Hillary Clinton was in office.
Later Friday, Hillary Clinton effectively acknowledged there were such invitations for her husband, but the State Department rejected both requests through a vetting process.
"There were some unusual requests but they all went through the process to try to make sure that the State Department conducted its independent review. He did neither of those speeches," the former secretary said at a news conference.
She also talked about a 2009 visit her husband made to Pyongyang to rescue two detained American journalists.
"You might not recall, but President Obama sent my husband to North Korea to rescue the two journalists who had been captured. This was after a painstaking negotiation to try to convince the North Korean leader to release these two young women," she said.
"And every offer we made, every diplomatic overture we made was rebuffed ... We offered many people to go. We said what about this person, what about that person? All of them were rebuffed. And then finally, the North Koreans came back and said if Bill Clinton comes, we will give him the two journalists ... We wanted those young women home and we said OK," she said.
jschang@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
Defense chief says N. Korea's hypersonic missile 'unsuccessful' in last-stage glide flight
-
N. Korea has capability to genetically engineer biological military products: U.S. report
-
Man in his 40s nabbed for spray-painting slurs toward ex-President Moon
-
Police catch 1,681 over alleged election law violations
-
PPP lawmaker says entire Cabinet should resign over general elections defeat
-
Ruling party leader resigns following election defeat
-
Defense chief says N. Korea's hypersonic missile 'unsuccessful' in last-stage glide flight
-
(LEAD) Yoon vows to improve communication with people after election defeat
-
Yoon presides over emergency meeting on Mideast crisis
-
(LEAD) S. Korea to extend fuel tax cut through June amid Middle East tensions
-
U.S. 'incredibly concerned' about suspected N.K.-Iran military ties
-
Army, Marine Corps conduct live-fire drills near border with N. Korea
-
(LEAD) Presidential office denies Moon aides under consideration for PM, chief of staff
-
S. Korea to provide 100,000 tons of rice to 11 nations
-
(2nd LD) S. Korea 'strongly' protests Tokyo's renewed claims to Dokdo, calls in Japanese diplomat