On Wednesday US President Donald Trump touted success in dealing with the rogue nation after confirming that North Korea had freed 3 US prisoners
WASHINGTON, U. S. – On Wednesday, U. S. President Donald Trump touted success in dealing with the rogue nation after confirming that North Korea had freed three American prisoners.
The move by North Korea comes just ahead of a planned meeting between the U. S. President and the leader of the nuclear armed North Korea.
Declaring a diplomatic victory, Trump said on Twitter that the three American prisoners were freed following Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s visit to North Korea.
Pompeo was in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang reportedly for more discussions with North Korean officials about the expected meeting between leaders of the two nations.
Trump said on Twitter, “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.”
He added that Pompeo was “in the air and on his way back from North Korea with the 3 wonderful gentlemen” and that the group seemed “to be in good health.”
North Korea has reportedly freed three American prisoners, all citizens of Korean descent.
The declaration put to an end, the bitter and emotional obstacle ahead of the planned meeting and was said to be one of the most tangible gesture of sincerity shown by the North Korea’s leader, who is seeking to improve relations with the United States after nearly seven decades of mutual antagonism.
Some experts believe that while the move came as a turnabout from a hostile and threatening relationship the two countries have shared over the last year, by releasing the three Americans, Kim Jong Un has forfeited a bargaining chip.
Now, after this release, no other Americans are believed to be held prisoner in North Korea.
In months long negotiations, the U. S. has persistently demanded the release of the three citizens, identified as Kim Dong-chul, Tony Kim and Kim Hak-song.
All the three were held on charges of committing espionage or unidentified “hostile acts” against North Korea.
Ever since Pompeo’s first secret visit to North Korea over the Easter weekend, anticipation of the release of prisoners had been building.
Pompeo had held initial talks with Kim Jong Un and other top North Korean officials about the planned summit meeting during that meeting, which is now scheduled to take place in the next few months.
Last week, Trump took to Twitter to tease the possibility that American prisoners would be freed.
He even incorrectly asserted in his tweet that his predecessor, President Barack Obama’s administration had unsuccessfully pressed for their release – in fact, two of the three prisoners were seized after Trump took office.
On May 3 this year, Trump tweeted, “As everybody is aware, the past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned!”
Kim Dong-chul, the longest-held detainee was sentenced to ten years in prison with hard labor in April 2016 for espionage and subversion.
Addressing reporters ahead of his trial, he said he had spied for South Korean intelligence authorities in a plot to bring down the North’s leadership.
He said that he had tried to spread religion among North Koreans.
However, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service said his case wasn’t related to the organization in any way.
Meanwhile, 59-year-old Tony Kim was detained at Pyongyang Airport in April 2017, as he was preparing to leave the country. Reports have noted that the Korean-American accounting professor had been working at the Pyongyang University of Science Technology, an institution privately funded by Christian groups in the West.
Further, his California-based son, 27-year-old Sol Kim has been lobbying for the humanitarian release of all three men.
In a statement released earlier on Wednesday, the family said, “We are thankful that the President has chosen to engage directly with North Korea. We do think it’s time for them to come home.”
In May 2017, Kim Hak-song, who was also working at the Pyongyang Science and Technology University, was held for „hostile acts against the republic.”
The institution said that Hak-song was doing agricultural development work not connected with the university.
