lee andling told that to family and then to vice president al gore.bama white house was able to keep distance until the end. >> our focus right now is on the safety of ensuring two journalist that is are in north korea right now. >> reporter: the meeting opens up new interaction with north korea on the heels of recent weapons test. did clinton and kim jong-il discuss them? maybe. >> it allows him to solidify himself both nationally and internationally by having this photograph and meeting and visit by president clinton. >> reporter: the 12 women were sentence inned to 12 years hard labor in north korea ya. today in kenya secretary of state hillary clinton denied north korea's reports the former president apologized for lee andling, but there are also talk about building new trusts between the two countries. live on capitol hill, brooke hart. back to you. >>> a shockinghooting at a crowded gym. four people are dead this morning, including the gunman. it happened last night in bridgeville outside of pittsburgh. news 34's kimberly southers has new detail

the scenes negotiations, clinton had assurances even before he arrived that he would be bringing lee andling home. it was former vice president al gore who approached clinton to act as emissary. gore is cofounder of the media outlet where the journalists had worked. and they had rejected gore and other emissaries. all of us areov overjoyed at thr safe return. for now, all our thoughts are with laura and euna and their families who have shown remarkable courage and initiative for the 140 days of this ordeal. during those 140 days, the north koreans showed nothing but obstinan obstinance. but intern it seems to have -- but in the end it seems to have paid off for them. bill richardson who negotiated for the release of a hostage says that the smiling president next to clinton is good for the president. >> it gives him a great deal of prestige to have the former president there, so this a big coup. >> that's not the only thing they got. clinton's wife, the secretary of state, in an interview with mian india apologized to the north koreans. >> the young women have apparently admitted that they pr

secret meeting clearly had the blessing of the secretary of state and president obama who demanded lee's andling'selease. nbc news learned that al gore, who employed the journalists helped arrange their release before bill clinton went. even ailing and reclusive dictator kim jong-il came out to bask in the world spotlight. >> what allows him to solidify himself both internationally and nationally by having this photograph and meeting and visit by president clinton. >> did the former president urge kim or his aides to negotiate an end to their nuclear program? that's the assumption. bill clinton is bringing home the details. along with two freed americans. president obama promised to reach out to north korea but is keeping his distance by sending this time a private citizen. jim, wendy? >> a developing international story. the pentagon is reporting this evening two russian attack subs have been detected off the east coast of the united states. the two nuclear powered submarines have been cruising up and down the east coast about 200 miles offshore. not clear what they're doing. believed to be the f