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| Donald Trump announces three US prisoners being freed by North Korea | Donald Trump announces three US prisoners being freed by North Korea |
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| US President Donald Trump has said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will return from a trip to North Korea with three American detainees, who “seem to be in good health”. | US President Donald Trump has said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will return from a trip to North Korea with three American detainees, who “seem to be in good health”. |
| “I am pleased to inform you that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in the air and on his way back from North Korea with the 3 wonderful gentlemen that everyone is looking so forward to meeting. They seem to be in good health,” Mr Trump tweeted. | “I am pleased to inform you that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in the air and on his way back from North Korea with the 3 wonderful gentlemen that everyone is looking so forward to meeting. They seem to be in good health,” Mr Trump tweeted. |
| Mr Trump said he will greet Pompeo and the Americans when they land at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington, early on Thursday morning. “Very exciting!” he wrote on Twitter. | Mr Trump said he will greet Pompeo and the Americans when they land at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington, early on Thursday morning. “Very exciting!” he wrote on Twitter. |
| The fate of Korean-Americans Kim Hak-song, Tony Kim and Kim Dong-chul had been among a number of delicate issues in the run-up to the first-ever meeting between Mr Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. | The fate of Korean-Americans Kim Hak-song, Tony Kim and Kim Dong-chul had been among a number of delicate issues in the run-up to the first-ever meeting between Mr Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. |
| Mr Trump sent Pompeo to Pyongyang to accompany the men home following calls from Washington for Mr Kim to free them as a gesture of goodwill and sincerity before the US-North Korea meeting, which is expected to take place in late May or early June. | Mr Trump sent Pompeo to Pyongyang to accompany the men home following calls from Washington for Mr Kim to free them as a gesture of goodwill and sincerity before the US-North Korea meeting, which is expected to take place in late May or early June. |
| The White House said in a statement that Mr Trump viewed the detainees' release as "a positive gesture of goodwill". The statement confirmed the Americans were in good condition, and able to walk onto the plane without assistance. | |
| Little is known about why the men were sentenced, or about the conditions they faced in North Korea. | Little is known about why the men were sentenced, or about the conditions they faced in North Korea. |
| Kim Dong-chul, a South Korea-born US citizen, was detained in 2015 and sentenced to 10 years of hard labour in 2016. He was accused of stealing military secrets for South Korea – a claim the country denies. | Kim Dong-chul, a South Korea-born US citizen, was detained in 2015 and sentenced to 10 years of hard labour in 2016. He was accused of stealing military secrets for South Korea – a claim the country denies. |
| Tony Kim, a worker at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, was arrested last year on espionage charges. Fellow PUST worker Kim Hak-song was arrested two weeks later on suspicion of "hostile acts". | Tony Kim, a worker at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, was arrested last year on espionage charges. Fellow PUST worker Kim Hak-song was arrested two weeks later on suspicion of "hostile acts". |
| Reports surfaced last week that the men had been had been transferred to a hotel near Pyongyang ahead of their release. While the White House would not confirm the reports, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the detainees' release would be "an incredible sign of goodwill" in the lead-up to the US-North Korea summit. | |
| Mr Trump also hinted that the release might be coming, telling his Twitter followers to "stay tuned!" last week. | Mr Trump also hinted that the release might be coming, telling his Twitter followers to "stay tuned!" last week. |
| The president announced his secretary of state's surprise visit to North Korea on Tuesday. Mr Pompeo had previously held a secret meeting with Mr Kim in April, to lay the groundwork for the summit. Mr Trump said a "good relationship" was formed at the Easter weekend meeting. | The president announced his secretary of state's surprise visit to North Korea on Tuesday. Mr Pompeo had previously held a secret meeting with Mr Kim in April, to lay the groundwork for the summit. Mr Trump said a "good relationship" was formed at the Easter weekend meeting. |
| Mr Kim has also met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in recent weeks – even crossing the border into South Korea for the first time. The leaders agreed to officially end the Korean War, and agreed on a goal of denuclearising the Korean Penninsula. | Mr Kim has also met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in recent weeks – even crossing the border into South Korea for the first time. The leaders agreed to officially end the Korean War, and agreed on a goal of denuclearising the Korean Penninsula. |
| North Korea released American college student Otto Warmbier from detention late last year. The 22-year-old was in a coma, and died a week after being returned to his parents, without ever regaining consciousness. | North Korea released American college student Otto Warmbier from detention late last year. The 22-year-old was in a coma, and died a week after being returned to his parents, without ever regaining consciousness. |