(Dan Tri) – Three American citizens detained by North Korea in labor camps have been released, ahead of the US-North Korea summit scheduled to take place in the next few weeks.

From left to right: Kim Hak-song, Kim Dong Chul and Kim Sang Duk.

South Korea’s Donga Ilbo newspaper quoted Choi Sung-ryong, representative of the Family Association of Citizens Arrested in North Korea, as saying that three American citizens Kim Dong Chul, Kim Sang Duk, also known as Tony Kim, and

“We spoke with a source in North Korea today.

According to Mr. Choi, sources in North Korea have revealed that the Pyongyang government is negotiating with the US on the best way to bring the three detained citizens home.

`If North Korea releases three detained US citizens before the US-North Korea summit, this will be a good opportunity to show their sincerity,` new White House Security Advisor John Bolton told Fox News.

According to IB Times, after being released from the labor camp, three American citizens underwent `health awareness education and treatment` after their time in detention.

Former CIA Director Mike Pompeo is said to have discussed with leader Kim Jong-un about releasing 3 US citizens during a secret trip to Pyongyang (Photo: UPI)

A White House official revealed that former CIA Director and new US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo went to North Korea and had a secret meeting with leader Kim Jong-un in early April. At the meeting, the two sides discussed

Mr. Kim Dong Chul is a Korean-American missionary who was arrested by North Korea in the Rajin-Sonbong Economic Zone since October 2, 2015.

Mr. Kim Sang Duk was arrested on April 21, 2017 for `hostile acts` against the North Korean government, but it is unclear what the specific acts were.

Mr. Kim Hak-song, a Korean born in China, was arrested by North Korea on May 7, 2017.

North Korea arrested American student Otto Warmbier in 2016 and sentenced him to 15 years in prison for stealing propaganda banners while traveling to North Korea.

In addition to the three American citizens, North Korea is currently also detaining six South Korean citizens, of which three missionaries Kim Jung-wook, Kim Kuk-ki and Choi Chun-gil were arrested in October 2013 and October respectively.

Korea – North Korea open liaison office

The two leaders of South Korea and North Korea at the summit on April 27 (Photo: Reuters)

Yonhap quoted South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon as saying that leader Kim Jong-un agreed with South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s proposal to open each country’s liaison office in the capital.

The joint statement signed after the summit between the two leaders of South Korea and North Korea on April 27 outlined the goal of ending the war on the Korean Peninsula, while also committing to denuclearization and strengthening international relations.

“President Moon proposed that the two countries communicate regularly through offices in Seoul and Pyongyang, and Chairman Kim said he hoped things would progress in that direction,” Minister Cho said.

According to Minister Cho, the North Korean leader seems to show `strong determination` in developing the country’s stagnant economy.

Success

Synthetic