Donald Trump says three American detainees released from North Korea, on way home with Mike Pompeo

Updated about 4 hours ago

PHOTO: The release of Kim Dong-chul, Tony Kim and Kim Hak-song comes ahead of a US-North Korea summit. (AP/Supplied)

US President Donald Trump says three Americans detained by North Korea are on their way home with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

"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," Mr Trump tweeted.

"They seem to be in good health."

Mr Trump said Mr Pompeo and the detainees would be landing at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland at 2:00am on Thursday (local time).

"I will be there to greet them. Very exciting!" Mr Trump tweeted.

The three US detainees being released are Korean-American missionary Kim Dong-chul; Kim Sang-duk, also known as Tony Kim, who spent a month teaching at the foreign-funded Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST) before he was arrested in 2017; and Kim Hak-song, who also taught at PUST.

North Korea had accused the Korean-Americans of anti-state activities but their arrests were widely seen as politically motivated and had compounded the dire state of relations over the isolated nation's nuclear weapons.

They had been held for periods ranging between one and two years.

"[We thank] all of those who have worked toward and contributed to his return home," the family of 59-year-old Tony Kim said.

The fate of the detainees had been among a number of delicate issues in the run-up to the first-ever meeting of US and North Korean leaders.

PHOTO: Kim Dong-chul was a missionary who was arrested in 2015. (AP: Kim Kwang Hyon)

Mr Trump sent Mr Pompeo to Pyongyang to accompany the men home following US calls for Mr Kim to free them as a gesture of goodwill before the US-North Korea meeting, which is expected to take place in late May or early June.

Mr Pompeo said he had productive conversations with North Korean officials to lay the groundwork for the summit.

"For decades, we have been adversaries. Now we are hopeful that we can work together to resolve this conflict," Mr Pompeo said, adding that "there are many challenges along the way".

With news of the release of the Americans, Seoul called on North Korea to also release six South Korean detainees to "reinforce conciliation", a presidential spokesman said.

North Korea issues warning to US

Mr Pompeo had arrived in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, earlier on Wednesday from Japan and headed to its Koryo Hotel for meetings.

Until now, the only American released by North Korea during Mr Trump's presidency has been Otto Warmbier, a 22-year-old university student who returned to the United States in a coma last year after 17 months of captivity.

He died days later.

PHOTO: Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un are expected to meet in the coming weeks. (Reuters/AP)