Trump putting on show for trio

STAGING a flag-waving, still-of-the-night arrival ceremony, US President Donald Trump has welcomed home three Americans freed by North Korea and declared their release a sign of promise toward his goal of de-nuclearising the Korean Peninsula.

Mr Trump called it a “great honour” to welcome the detainees to the US and added: “The true honour is going to be if we have a victory in getting rid of nuclear weapons.”

Joined by the former detainees, Mr Trump thanked North Korea’s Kim Jong-un for releasing the Americans, and said he believes Mr Kim wants to reach an agreement on denuclearising the Korean peninsula.

“I really think he wants to do something,” the President said.

First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and a host of senior administration officials joined Mr Trump to celebrate the occasion yesterday at Joint Base Andrews near Washington.

The men, Kim Dong Chul, Kim Hak Song and Tony Kim, had been released Wednesday amid a warming of relations between the longtime adversaries.

The President and First Lady boarded the medical plane on which the men traveled to take a private moment with them, then appeared at the top of the airplane stairway with the three and applauded as the men held up their arms in what appeared to be gestures of triumph.

“This is a special night for these three really great people,” Mr Trump said as he stood on the tarmac with the former detainees.

On the US relationship with North Korea, Mr Trump declared, “We’re starting off on a new footing.”

The freed prisoners appeared tired, but in excellent spirits, flashing peace signs as they emerged from the aircraft.

They were joined by a translator who said “it’s like a dream” and that the men were “very, very happy” to be freed.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had secured their release in Pyongyang after meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on final plans for the Trump-Kim summit.