Two Americans who were held for months in North Korea have been freed, according to U.S. officials.
Kenneth Bae, who was detained in late 2012 and is described as an evangelical Christian missionary, was convicted in North Korea on charges of plotting to overthrow its government. He was sentenced to 15 years hard labor.
Matthew Todd Miller was arrested in April and accused of committing acts hostile to Pyongyang while entering the country under the guise of a tourist. He was sentenced to six years hard labor.
Their release comes weeks after another American detainee in North Korea, Jeffrey Fowle, was set free.
Director of National Intelligence James Clapper personally traveled to North Korea to secure the release of Bae and Miller and accompany them home.
“We can confirm that U.S. citizens Kenneth Bae and Matthew Todd Miller have been allowed to depart [North Korean] and are on their way home, accompanied by DNI Clapper, to re-join their families,” ODNI spokesman Brian Hale said in a statement Saturday.
“We welcome the [Pyonyang’s] decision to release both Mr. Bae and Mr. Miller,” he said, offering special thanks to the government of Sweden for its “tireless efforts to help secure their release.”
President Obama told reporters Saturday that he too was grateful for Bae’s and Miller’s safe return home.
“It’s a wonderful day for them and their families. Obviously we are very grateful for their safe return and I appreciate Director Clapper doing a great job on what was obviously a challenging mission,” he told reporters briefly after a White House ceremony announcing Loretta Lynch as his nominee for attorney general.
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki also welcomed the Bae’s and Miller’s release.
“The safety and welfare of U.S. citizens abroad is the Department of State’s highest priority, and the United States has long called on [North Korean] authorities to release these individuals on humanitarian grounds,” she said. “We join their families and friends in welcoming them home.”
