SEOUL, South Korea — Former President Bill Clinton left North Korea early Wednesday, the state news agency reported, after securing a pardon for two jailed American journalists from the reclusive North Korean president, Kim Jong-il. It was not immediately known whether the journalists were allowed to leave as well.

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Zhang Binyang/Xinhua, via Associated Press

Former President Bill Clinton shook hands with a North Korean official in Pyongyang. More Photos »

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APTN/Associated Press

Mr. Clinton was greeted with flowers. More Photos >

Yonhap/Associated Press

Euna Lee, top, and Laura Ling. More Photos >

The official Korean Central News Agency issued a brief dispatch, news agencies reported, saying that Mr. Clinton and his party had left by plane.

 I haven't heard anything from the wingers yet, but what does this say about the Republicans as the party that knows how to get things done?