Former US President begins mercy mission

Former US President Jimmy Carter departed on his mission to North Korea that US officials said is aimed at bringing home an imprisoned American.

Mr Carter departed the US yesterday for North Korea aboard a civilian jet along with his wife, Rosalynn, and Carter Centre President John Hardman, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.

Seoul-based YTN television network carried a similar report.

Mr Carter's trip is aimed at gaining the freedom of Aijalon Mahli Gomes who was detained in North Korea for entering the country illegally in January, US officials said late on Monday.

North Korea agreed to release Mr Gomes if Mr Carter were to come to bring him home, a senior US official said.

The former president was expected to spend a single night in North Korea and return with Mr Gomes tomorrow, a second US official said.