Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has reportedly departed for North Korea to win the release of a detained American.

According to diplomatic sources in Washington, Carter left for the communist state aboard a civilian airplane on Tuesday, U.S. time.

Carter is reportedly accompanied by his wife, Rosalynn Carter, and Carter Center President and CEO John Hardman.

According to CNN, Carter is not planning to deliver a letter or message from President Barack Obama to Pyongyang. It's not kwown whether Carter will meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.

The State Department reportedly does not plan to confirm Carter’s North Korea trip until after the safety of Aijalon Gomes is secured, as Carter’s visit is aimed at winning the release of the U.S. citizen.

Gomes was detained by the North in January for entering the country illegally. He was sentenced in April to eight years of hard labor and fined 700-thousand dollars.