Recent news reports on Hillary Clinton’s emails indicate that former President Bill Clinton sought permission from the State Department for a paid speaking engagement in North Korea while his spouse was secretary of state. ABC News reported on August 28th that it “obtained State Department e-mails that shed light on Bill Clinton’s lucrative speaking engagements and show he and the Clinton Foundation tried to get approval for invitations related to two of the most repressive countries in the world – North Korea and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.” A May 2012 email, titled “North Korea invitation,” from the Clinton Foundation to then-Hillary Clinton chief of staff Cheryl Mills read, “Is it safe to assume (the U.S. Government) would have concerns about WJC accepting the attached invitation related to North Korea?” Mills replied, “Decline it.” In a follow-up email the Clinton Foundation noted that the invitation came via Secretary Clinton’s brother Tony Rodham.

Most modern American presidents had very contentious relations with North Korea