Washington: United States President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence received three former American detainees who returned from North Korea on Thursday.
President Trump received Kim Hak-song, Tony Kim and Kim Dong-Chul at Maryland in the US where they had reached in a helicopter.
“It is a great honour. Hope everything works fine.” Trump said.
I just want to say that they are really great people. Congratulations.” he added.
He said, “That (denuclearisation) is what the entire world was waiting for a long time. Nobody thought North Korea will be on this track in terms of speed.”
He said that the true victory would be if the Panmunjom village (Demilitarized Zone) gets rid of nuclear weapons.
“We would like to appreciate that (North Korean leader)Kim Jong Un allowed to release them before the meeting (US-North Korea) summit” Trump added.
He said, “IT was very important for all of us to get them out. Kim did this as he wants to do something. We are going to have success.”
He further said that a new relation has been forged between the US and North Korea and added, “A year ago, one would say it was not possible.”
Trump further mentioned of the US citizen Otto Warmbier, an American college student, who was arrested in North Korea last year for allegedly removing a political propaganda poster from a Pyongyang hotel he died after being transferred to the US in a deep coma.
Trump said, “I have my sympathies with parents of Otto Warmbier’s who was a great young man who really suffered. His parents became friends. We met them the other day.”
He also praised Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as he said “Mike was in North Korea. He has done a fantastic job.”
Pompeo recently went to North Korea a trip which was second within a month and returned with the detainees.
The three detainees were held captive on charges of espionage or for doing “hostile acts” against the North Korean government.
Meanwhile the Yonhap news agency, reported that Pompeo is expected to reveal the exact date and location of the summit between President Trump and Kim Jong Un. (ANI)