Posted By Joshua Keating 
Friday, August 27, 2010 - 8:38 AM. 
Today: Former President Jimmy Cater is leaving North Korea today along with freed American Aijalon Gomes. Gomes had been sentenced in April to eight years of hard labor for entering North Korea illegally.
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Carter arrived in Pyongyang on Wednesday on a private diplomatic mission at the invitation of the North Korean government. It was suspected that North Korea would use the trip to push for an easing of U.S. sanctions, but it does not appear that North Korean leader Kim Jong Il met personally with Carter, as he did with former President Bill Clinton during a similar trip last year.
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Instead, Kim traveled by train to China on Wednesday night and will reportedly meet withPresident Hu Jintao of China today. Kim is reportedly traveling with his 27-year-old son Kim Jong Un, who is believed to be his father's chosen successor. Kim may be seeking the support of North Korea's largest ally for the succession. He is also likely seeking Chinese aid in response to chronic food shortages.
