N.Korea frees US detainees
Trump in praise of Kim Jong-un’s goodwill gesture.
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump greeted three Americans released by North Korea at an air base near Washington, underscoring a much needed diplomatic win and a stepping stone to a historic summit with Kim Jong-un.
Trump and First Lady Melania made the short helicopter ride from the White House to Joint Base Andrews to personally welcome Kim Hak-song, Tony Kim and Kim Dong-chul back to the United States, after their release from North Korea on Wednesday.
The president and his wife strode up the steps into the blue and white plane to greet them privately before coming out before TV cameras in the middle of the night.
Trump praised Kim for freeing the Americans ahead of the planned summit between the two leaders.
One of the former prisoners waved his arms from atop the steps, and another while down on the tarmac.
“It was understood that we would be able to get these three terrific people during the meeting and bring them home after the meeting,” Trump said.
“He was nice in letting them go before the meeting. Frankly, we didn’t think this was going to happen. And it did.”
Remarking on the sudden shift in US relations with North Korea and the upcoming summit, Trump said: “We’re starting off on a new footing... he released the folks early.
“It’s a big thing. Very important to me.
“And I really think we have a very good chance of doing something very meaningful and if anybody would have said that five years ago, 10 years ago – even a year ago – you would have said that’s not possible.”
He added: “A lot of very good things have happened.”
The North Korean regime granted the three men “amnesty”, a US official said, removing a major point of friction between Washington and Pyongyang and a potential obstacle to talks between the Cold War foes.
The men flew home with the new Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Two of the men, agricultural expert Hak-song and former professor Tony, were arrested in 2017, while Dong-chul, a South Koreaborn American businessman and pastor in his 60s, was sentenced to 10 years’ hard labour in 2016.
“All indications are at this point that their health is as good as could be given that they’ve been held,” Pompeo said.
The trio later released a statement of thanks conveyed via the State Department.
“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,” they said.
“We thank God, and all our families and friends who prayed for us and for our return. God Bless America, the greatest nation in the world.”
The family of Tony also voiced gratitude to “all of those who have worked toward and contributed to his return home” – and specifically thanking Trump for “engaging directly with North Korea”.
Before the plane’s arrival, Trump described the men’s release as “a gesture of goodwill”.
The White House said Trump spoke with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in about Pompeo’s visit to North Korea, and that the two presidents welcomed the release of the Americans and “expressed hope for joyful family reunions”.
Trump supporters declared their release an unbridled political victory, evidence, Vice-President Mike Pence said, that “strong leadership and our America First policies are paying dividends”.
The development appears to pave the way for a muchanticipated summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim, scheduled to take place within weeks. — AFP