Pompeo brings 3 freed Americans back from DPRK, Trump tweets

A "date and place" for his meeting with Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) top leader Kim Jong Un has been set and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is bringing three freed Americans back from the DPRK, President Donald Trump tweeted Wednesday.

"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," Trump tweeted.

A screenshot of US President Donald Trump's tweet [Photo: China Plus]

Saying that the three freed detainees "seem to be in good health", Trump added they would land at Andrews Air Force Base at 2:00 a.m. EDT (0600 GMT), and he would be there to greet them.

The three Korean-Americans, Kim Dong Chul, Kim Hak Song and Tony Kim, had been detained in the DPRK for one to two years.

The U.S. president also tweeted "Date & Place set" on Pompeo's second visit to the DPRK, referring to his anticipated summit with Kim Jong Un.

He also said Pompeo had a "good meeting with Kim Jong Un."

Trump said earlier on Tuesday that Pompeo was on the way to the DPRK to prepare for his meeting with Kim, adding that he was hopeful the three U.S. detainees would be released soon.

The three US nationals previously detained in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) are are currently on their way back home with the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on May 9, 2018. [Photo: CGTN]

Pompeo also said on the same day while on the plane to the DPRK that his visit was aimed to nail down a framework for the possible Trump-Kim meeting.

Pompeo said he would also talk about the release of the three men.

"We have been asking for the release of these detainees for 17 months. We'll talk about it again today," he said.

Their release would be a "great gesture" he said, adding that he hoped North Korea would "do the right thing."

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported earlier that the three men had been relocated in a hotel near Pyongyang in April.

Trump had said repeatedly that their release was his priority, and he would discuss the issue with Kim in their meeting, which could happen in May or early June.