The three American citizens who were being held in North Korean labor camps have been released and are on their way home with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo President Trump tweeted Wednesday morning.
Kim Hak-Song, Kim Dong-chul and Kim San-duk, who also goes by Tony Kim, had been held by Kim Jong-Un's regime.
The president announced the prisoner release in a tweet Wednesday morning.
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. Also, good meeting with Kim Jong Un. Date & Place set.
Secretary Pompeo and his “guests” will be landing at Andrews Air Force Base at 2:00 A.M. in the morning. I will be there to greet them. Very exciting!
In April 2017, while working at the Pyongyang University of Science Technology, Tony Kim was detained at Pyongyang Airport for "hostile criminal acts against the country" while he was preparing to leave the country. Kim Hak-song, who also worked for the University was also held for 'hostile acts against the republic' in May 2017.
Kim Dong-chul was detained over two years ago accused of spying for South Korea intelligence and plotting to bring down the North's leadership.
The family of Tony Kim released a statement praising the president's efforts to help bring the detainees home.
“We want to thank all of those who have worked toward and contributed to his return home,” the family said in a statement. “We also want to thank the President for engaging directly with North Korea. Mostly, we thank God for Tony’s safe return."
Pompeo spent the day in North Korea yesterday discussing details of a proposed summit between Kim and Trump. Details about the meeting have not yet been released.
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