SEOUL, South Korea — Former President Bill Clinton met Tuesday with two U.S. journalists jailed in North Korea, according to news reports.

Earlier, Clinton met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il during a surprise mission to Pyongyang to negotiate the release of the two reporters, holding "exhaustive" talks on a wide range of topics, state-run media said.

Clinton "courteously" conveyed a verbal message from President Barack Obama, the official Korean Central News Agency said in a report from Pyongyang. Kim expressed his thanks, and engaged Clinton in a "wide-ranging exchange of views on matters of common concern," the report said.

Reports: Clinton, Detained Reporters Meet – Commitment 2009 News Story – WLWT Cincinnati