WASHINGTON: North Korea has freed three American detainees, President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday, hailing a diplomatic victory ahead of a planned summit with Kim Jong-un.

Pyongyang granted the three men “amnesty”, a US official said, and were on their way back to the United States with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Two of the men, agricultural expert Kim Hak-song and former professor Tony Kim were arrested in 2017, while Kim Dong-chul, a South Korea-born American businessman and pastor in his 60s, was sentenced to 10 years’ hard labour in 2016.

“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,” Trump tweeted.

The White House said all three men were able to walk unassisted onto a US Air Force plane that carried them and the secretary of state out of North Korea.

A second plane, with more robust medical equipment, waited for them at Yokota Air Force Base, just outside Tokyo.

“All indications are their health is as good as could be given they been through,” said Pompeo.

The family of Tony Kim voiced their 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”. “Mostly, we thank God for Tony’s safe return,” the family said in a statement. “We ask that you continue to pray for the people of North Korea and for the release of all who are still being held.”

Trump meanwhile described the release as “a gesture of good will” and said he would be on hand when Pompeo’s three “guests” land at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington at 2am (0600 GMT) on Thursday.

Trump acolytes declared the release an unbridled political victory, evidence, Vice President Mike Pence said, that “strong leadership and our America First policies are paying dividends”.

The men’s release appears to pave the way for a much-anticipated summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim, scheduled to take place within weeks.

Demilitarized Zone for summit ruled out

Trump on Wednesday ruled out the Demilitarized Zone that divides the Korean peninsula as a venue for his upcoming summit with Kim Jong-un.

Trump, who had previously named the DMZ and Singapore as possible sites for the landmark meeting, told reporters at the White House the time and place would be announced “within three days”. Asked if the meeting would be held in the DMZ, as Trump had suggested last week, he said it would not be.

Trump’s comments came as Pompeo headed home after meeting in Pyongyang with Kim to discuss the summit preparations.

Returning with Pompeo are three Americans who had been detained by Pyongyang, the White House said.

Trump has said that the date and venue for the summit have now been set, but cautioned that the arrangements were still being worked out.

“Everything can be scuttled,” he said, when asked if the summit plans could yet be derailed. “A lot of good things can happen, a lot of bad things can happen,” he said.

“I believe that both sides will negotiate a deal. I think it’s going to be a very successful deal. I think we have a shot at making it successful. But lots of things could happen.”

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2018