(CNN) -- Nearly a decade has passed since Bill Clinton left the White House, but despite becoming a private citizen, the former president never left the public eye. Former President Clinton receives flowers from a girl Tuesday upon landing in Pyongyang, North Korea. While much of his time has been devoted to global philanthropic interests and speeches, Clinton has never strayed too far from the campaign trail and remains one of the world's most recognizable statesmen. Clinton, 62, jumped back onto the world stage Tuesday with an unannounced trip to North Korea on a mission to negotiate the release of two imprisoned American journalists.
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NEW: Kim Jong Il pardons two U.S. journalists, state-run news agency KCNA says
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Bill Clinton has focused on philanthropic interests in post-presidency
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Clinton has stayed involved in politics, sparking controversy in wife's 2008 campaign
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Clinton also has authored books, teamed up for charity with George H.W. Bush
They were traveling back to the @placeholder with Clinton on Tuesday night.