Trump greets 3 Americans released by North Korea as they land outside Washington

Trump greets Americans released by North Korea — (Image credit: Screenshot/Twitter/NBC News)

President Trump, first lady Melania Trump, and Vice President Mike Pence were among the officials who greeted three former American hostages when they landed at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington early Thursday morning. North Korea had released the Americans — Kim Dong Chul, Kim Hak Song, and Tony Kim — to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday, and Pompeo had flown them back on the U.S. government plane. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un released the Americans before a summit with Trump tentatively scheduled to take place in Singapore in June.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.