US detainees thank Trump for release from North Korea

Three Americans released by North Korea on Wednesday have thanked President Donald Trump and his Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for securing their freedom.

The men are flying to Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, where Mr Trump will welcome them early on Thursday.

The White House said they had been freed as a gesture of goodwill ahead of the planned meeting between Mr Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Mr Trump said the venue for the talks would be announced "within three days".

"We would like to express our deep appreciation to the United States government, President Trump, Secretary Pompeo and the people of the United States for bringing us home," Kim Hak-song, Tony Kim and Kim Dong-chul said in a statement.

"We thank God and all our families and friends who prayed for us and for our return." "I appreciate Kim Jong-un doing this and allowing them to go," Mr Trump said.