North Korea frees captive Americans

North Korea unexpectedly released its last two American citizens held in captivity on Saturday.

The release of Kenneth Bae and Matthew Todd Miller was facilitated with the help of Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, who accompanied the two on their way back. 

{mosads}”We can confirm that U.S. citizens Kenneth Bae and Matthew Todd Miller have been allowed to depart the DPRK and are on their way home, accompanied by DNI Clapper, to re-join their families,” spokesman Brian Hale said in a statement.

Clapper had been scheduled to give a lecture in New York on Wednesday in front of the Council on Foreign Relations. But it was canceled on Monday “due to a scheduling conflict.”

President Obama welcomed the release of Bae and Miller, who are headed home, during a Saturday press conference for New York prosecutor Loretta Lynch’s nomination as attorney general.

“Well I think it is a wonderful day for them and their families,” Obama said, responding to a shouted question.

“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 added. 

The United States does not have regular diplomatic relations with North Korea. The State Department and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence thanked Sweden, which represented U.S. interests in helping to secure the 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 DPRK authorities to release these individuals on humanitarian grounds,” State Department press secretary Jen Psaki said. “We join their families and friends in welcoming them home.”

The State Department warns against travel to the country, and reiterated that call on Saturday. 

The news follows the release of another U.S. citizens, Jeffrey Fowle, who was freed from the country in late October. No other Americans are currently known to be held by the North Korean government. 

Bae had been detained for two years, while Miller had been held for seven months. The two had previously asked the United States to intervene to help facilitate their release. 

Bae was arrested in 2012 and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor after being convicted of “hostile acts” against the government. Before he was detained, he had run a company that offered tours of North Korea, which were primarily made up of Americans and Canadians. He was born in South Korea but immigrated to the Untied States. 

Miller was detained in April and was sentenced to six years for what the North Korean government for attempting to commit espionage after entering the country. 

Other U.S. prisoners have been released in similar fashion from the largely isolated country. In 2009, Bill Clinton helped secure the release of two U.S. journalists. 

The news comes as President Obama is scheduled to depart the White House on his way to China where he will participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

This post was updated at 12:12 p.m.