Trump personally welcomes 3 Americans freed by North Korea
10 May 2018 3:54 PM GMT
Washington DC: Donald Trump personally welcomed home three American detainees on Thursday after they were released by Pyongyang, seen as a diplomatic win for the US President ahead of his planned summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
The Americans -- Kim Dong Chul, Kim Hak-song and Kim Sang Duk, also known as Tony Kim -- were freed on Wednesday while Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was on a visit to the North Korean capital to finalise the details of the summit.
The trio had been jailed for anti-state activities and placed in North Korean labour camps.
Trump and his wife Melania entered the plane after it landed in the early hours of Thursday and a few minutes later emerged with the three Americans of South Korean origin to wave to the media.
Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen Pence were also on hand to welcome the three men home.
Speaking to the media on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews Air Force Base, Kim Dong Chul said his release felt "like a dream."
"We are very, very happy," he said.
The three former detainees earlier issued a joint statement thanking Trump for their release.
"We would like to express our deep appreciation to the United States government, President Trump, Secretary Pompeo, and the people of the United States for bringing us home," the trio said.
President Trump told reporters that it was "nice" of the North Korean leader to release the three men ahead of their planned summit.
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