The Google chairman Eric Schmidt arrived in North Korea today saying he wanted a first-hand look at the country's economy and media.

Mr Schmidt, right, was accompanied by his daughter; Bill Richardson, the former US ambassador to the United Nations; and Jared Cohen, a Google executive. Mr Richardson confirmed it was "not a Google trip" but a "humanitarian private visit".

Despite the US government's opposition to the trip, Mr Richardson added he would try to discuss the detention of a Korean-American tour guide, Kenneth Bae, who was jailed in Pyongyang recently. "We'll meet with North Korean political leaders, economic leaders, military… we'll visit some universities," said Mr Richardson. "We don't control the visit. They will let us know what the schedule is."

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AP