North Korea releases US prisoners

Three American men who have been imprisoned in North Korea are released.

Sweden has played a key role in getting them free.

"Not least, the meeting between Foreign Minister Margot Wallström and North Korea's Minister for Foreign Affairs was important when he visited Stockholm," said a a source at the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Aftonbladet.

The three men are currently on a plane along with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, writes president Donald Trump on Twitter.

Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Margot Wallström, writes on Twitter:

”Good news from Pyongyang, three detained American citizens on their way home. Positive steps towards further diplomatic progress. ”

Mike Pompeo has been visiting North Korea, ahead of a planned summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un next month.The three prisoners were freed after Pompeo´s meeting with Kim.

Pompeo left the country with the three Americans Kim Dong-Chul, Kim Hak-Song and Kim Sang-Duk, also known as Tony Kim - aboard the US government plane.

Visited Sweden in March

When North Korean Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ri Yong-Ho, visited Sweden in March, the meeting mainly focused on the three American prisoners.

Negotiations on the release have been intense and Sweden has played a central role.

”It's very positive what has happened. Sweden has worked hard for the prisoners to be released and now the conditions are better for the continued talks, ”says a source at the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.