Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he was “thrilled” to greet three US citizens following their prolonged detentions in North Korea, and looks forward to a productive summit between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un.
Speaking to two reporters aboard his plane following its departure from North Korean airspace, Pompeo said the released Americans “seem to be in good health,” but would be traveling from Japan to the United States aboard a separate plane with “more robust medical capabilities” nevertheless.
“I’m thrilled that we have them back,” said Pompeo. “I’m happy that actually President Trump set the conditions for this to happen, and I’m thrilled with that. But there’s still a lot of work to do to achieve our ultimate goal.”
Pompeo said a date and time has been set for the potential upcoming summit between Trump and Kim, but would not reveal those details. Pompeo said the governments are planning to hold the summit on “a single day,” but added that, “in the event that there is more to discuss, there’ll be an opportunity for it to extend into the second day as well.”
The top US diplomat suggested the release of the detainees was a positive step ahead of the summit.
“I think that Chairman Kim is trying to set good conditions for the summit, right,” said Pompeo. “I think we are having good conversations, productive conversations, and so I think the work that President Trump has done to put us in this place made this possible.”