Bill Clinton trying to free jailed Americans in North Korea. Was their a deal with Kim Jung Il and the Obama Administration?

http://www.examiner.com/x-13348-Jacksonville-Republican-Examiner~y2009m8d4-Bill-Clinton-in-North-Korea-to-negotiate-release-of-captive-Americans

President Obama has decided to act (FINALLY) in a move to free the jailed reporters in North Korea. What took so long? A few interesting observations:

Hillary Clinton didn't go (she is the Secretary of State), Al Gore didn't go (he is the boss of the jailed reporters), and Bill seems to be confident he will get the women back to the U.S.

Something tells me a deal was worked out, just like Jimmy Carter's "deal" in 1994 that led to the North Koreans obtaining material to build nuclear weapons. Obama, hopefully, didn't do this; but he is not commenting on it publicly.

What a wonderful photo op this picture is for Kim Jung Il