Former U.S. President Bill Clinton was heading to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Tuesday to seek the release of two detained American journalists.

"Former President Clinton is en route to Pyongyang," the Yonhap news agency quoted an informed source as saying. "As soon as he arrives there, he will begin negotiations for the release of the journalists."

Clinton's trip is expected to help pave the way for direct negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington, and the resumption of the six-party talks that also involve South Korea, China, Russia and Japan, Yonhap said.

The DPRK's highest court sentenced in June two American journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, to 12 years of what it calls "reform through labor."

The two, who worked for the San Francisco-based Current TV co-founded by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, were captured on March 17 for allegedly crossing the DPRK border from China and committing "hostile actions" against the country.

(Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2009)