Pompeo returning from N Korea with 3 US detainees: Trump

United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was returning to the US from North Korea along with the three American detainees.

He underscored that he was looking forward to meeting with North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un, adding that the venue and place were finalised.

In a tweet, Trump wrote, "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. Also, good meeting with Kim Jong Un. Date & Place set."

In the second tweet, the US President said that Pompeo and the three American hostages would land at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland at 2 a.m. (Thursday local time) and he was looking forward to greeting them.

"Secretary Pompeo and his "guests" will be landing at Andrews Air Force Base at 2:00 A.M. in the morning. I will be there to greet them. Very exciting!," Trump tweeted.

On Wednesday, Pompeo made an unannounced visit to North Korea to finalise the plans for a historic summit between Kim and Trump, amid speculations that he would return along with the three American detainees.

This was Pompeo's second visit to the isolated nation after he made a similar trip last month.

South Korea, meanwhile, hailed the release of the three American hostages, saying it would have a "positive effect" ahead of the Kim-Trump meet.

Last Thursday, Trump hinted at the possibility of the release of the hostages, who were detained in North Korea.

In a midnight tweet, President Trump wrote, "As everybody is aware, the past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned!"

The tweet came after a report emerged that North Korea relocated three American detainees from a labour camp to a hotel on the outskirts of Pyongyang.

The three American citizens - Kim Hak-song, Tony Kim and Kim Dong-chul - were accused of espionage or doing "hostile acts" against the North Korean government.