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North Korea frees 3 US hostages

5 || risingbd.com

Published: 14:40, 9 May 2018   Update: 15:18, 26 July 2020
North Korea frees 3 US hostages

International Desk: North Korea on Wednesday released three American detainees, the communist country's latest gesture of good will toward the United States in advance of an unprecedented summit between leaders Kim Jong Un and President Trump.

Trump announced their release on Twitter, adding that the date and place for the two leaders' summit has been set.

"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," he said. "They seem to be in good health. Also, good meeting with Kim Jong Un. Date & Place set."

The three men —  Kim Hak-Song, also known as Jin Xue Song; Tony Kim, also known as Kim Sang-Duk; and Kim Dong-Chul — were seized between 2015 and 2017, and accused of a variety of anti-state offenses. All traveled to the isolated nation to help its 25 million citizens. All were sentenced to years in the North's brutal camps.

Tony Kim's family issued a statement on Twitter thanking Trump, God, and everyone who helped secure his release.

"We…want to thank the President for engaging directly with N. Korea. Mostly, we thank God for Tony’s safe return," they said. They also called for prayers for “the people of North Korea and for the release of all who are still being held."

The White House released a statement, thanking the North Korean leader for his decision to release the hostages. "President Trump appreciates leader Kim Jong Un’s action to release these American citizens, and views this as a positive gesture of goodwill, the statement said. "The three Americans appear to be in good condition and were all able to walk on the plane without assistance."

The detainees' release came while Pompeo was meeting with senior leaders in North Korea about the agenda for the upcoming meeting between Trump and Kim.

"We’re hoping to nail some of those down to say – to put in place a framework for a successful summit between the two presidents," Pompeo told reporters before the meeting.

Source: Agencies


risingbd/Dhaka/May 9, 2018/AI

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