Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has left North Korea with three Americans that had been held captive by the rogue state, just ahead of a meeting between President Donald Trump and the country’s leader Kim Jong-un.
Trump announced the release of the prisoners on Wednesday morning. The president also said there is a “date & place” set for their summit.
“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,” Trump wrote.
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.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 9, 2018
In a tweet, Pompeo said he was “delighted” to bring home the three former captives.
“I had productive meetings in Pyongyang with Chairman Kim Jong-un and made progress. I’m delighted to bring home three Americans,” he wrote, adding in an earlier tweet that he is looking forward to a “successful summit” between the United States and North Korea.
The three captives, Kim Hak-song, Tony Kim, and Kim Dong-chul, were released as a condition of a summit between the two countries, according to the New York Times.
“President Trump appreciates leader Kim Jong Un’s action to release these American citizens, and views this as a positive gesture of goodwill,” the White House said in a statement.
The president said the three former captives are scheduled to arrive at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland at 2am on Thursday.
You can read more about the release of the captives from North Korea here.
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