The United States Wednesday confirmed that former U.S. President Jimmy Carter was in North Korea working to secure the release of an American citizen jailed in April for illegally crossing the border from China. Mark Toner, a State Department spokesman, said that Carter “is on a private humanitarian mission to North Korea,” and that he was not aware of any contacts the former president had with the State Department before his visit. “It's a mission to secure the release of Mr. [Aijalon] Gomes. But we don't want to jeopardize the prospects for Mr. Gomes to be returned home by discussing any of the details,” Tone added. Carter was greeted at an official ceremony at Pyongyang airport by North Korean Vice Foreign Minister and Nuclear Envoy Kim Kye-gwan, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. Kim Yong-nam, the de facto head of state, had a “cordial” talk with Carter before arranging a reception for his party at the Paekhwawon State Guesthouse, KCNA said. The former president hopes to leave Pyongyang on Thursday with Gomes, South Korea's Munhwa Ilbo newspaper reported.
