north korea, its ientions, its nuclear missiles, has been a preoccupation for the ung obama adminiration. now we see sudden and marked change in atmohere. clinton spent more than three hours with kim jong il, the sterious north korean leader what else did theyalk about? is year,orth korea launched missiles into the sea of japan. did mr. clton tried to persuade mr.kiminto international talks? the u.s. is giving nothingway, but the is a sense of expectation washington. there are channels to begin a ossible dialogue. this is certainly humanitarian event, but it hasmplications, it has ripples, if you will, in other area of policy. > kim jong-il h been dogged by illness tonight, he looks a lite stronr and more in contr. but the pressure of new n. sanctions and, i am told, fresh ressure from china my be forcing him to be engaged with the united states. at this momen it may be more than a human story. noh korea may be ready to make anotr attempt at comingn fromthe cold. bbc news , washington. >> the journalis have been weomed by the secretary of state hillarylinton. she isn nya where she strong