The rare invitation by North Korea to an American official to a dinner that led to the release of two detained U.S. citizens was part of Pyongyang's attempt to improve its international image.

U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, in an interview with Face the Nation on CBS, disclosed that the three-hour dinner with two Nokor generals was not a pleasant mealtime since difficult issues were brought up by his hosts, Gen. Kim Yong-chol, director of Reconnaissance General Bureau, and Gen. Kim Won Hong, minister of State Security.

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"They did bring up the human rights issue at one point ... criticizing us for our interventionist approach, our interventionist policies into their internal matters," Yonhapnews quoted Clapper. "So it was that sort of dialogue back and forth."

Clapper's November 7-8 trip to North Korea came at about the same time that the United Nations General Assembly made a resolution that pushed for Pyongyang to be tried by the International Criminal Court over massive human rights violations.

The release of the two detainees and allowing an American official in the closed country appear to be part of the North Korean government's strategy to tone down the UN move.

Clapper admitted that he had doubts if Kenneth Bae and Matthew Miller would be released by the North Korean government until he was led to a hotel for the amnesty-granting rite. But he also acknowledged visiting the communist nation was on his bucket list as a professional.

Clapper flew over to North Korea aboard an American chopper in December 1985, but North Korea shot at their aircraft although the pilot managed to fly them to South Korea safely, according to The Guardian.

Based on the dinner conversation, Clapper said he had the impression that his hosts were waiting for a breakthrough on better diplomatic relationship between Pyongyang and Washington.

Since Clapper was not there to offer a peace treaty or some other form of a diplomatic breakthrough with North Korea, he said the reclusive nation was "disappointed" with the meeting.

TagsJames Clapper, North Korea, Human Rights