It was reported before that Kim Jong-il tried to get Bill Clinton to attend a showing of the Arirang Mass Games and now it appears that he was very serious about this offer:

When former U.S. President Bill Clinton took off from Pyongyang in early August after winning the freedom of two American journalists, he left 40,000-50,000 North Korean children and juveniles despondent.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il had prepared a special performance of the “Arirang” mass calisthenics show for Clinton, which was to be attended by an audience of 100,000 Pyongyang residents, North Korean sources say. Kim reportedly asked Clinton three times to watch the show, but the former president changed the subject each time.

On the day, the 40,000-50,000 children and juveniles were standing by in the sultry heat because nobody knew when instructions would be given to perform. According to one North Korean source, a special order had been given a week before Clinton’s visit to Pyongyang. Under the order, the children should be on standby for the “no. 1 event,” i.e. a performance attended by Kim.  [Chosun Ilbo]

I continue to believe Bill Clinton did the right thing by not attending the Arirang showing.  It would be nothing more then further propaganda for Kim Jong-il as well as further legitimizing the Arirang Mass Games which is nothing more then child abuse.