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WASHINGTON, Nov 8 (Reuters) - North Korea has freed two U.S. citizens, Kenneth Bae and Matthew Todd Miller, who are returning home after spending months in detention in the secretive Asian state, the U.S. government said on Saturday.
Bae and Miller were being accompanied back to the United States by James Clapper, the director of national intelligence, his office said. Their release comes less than three weeks after another American was freed by Pyongyang.
Bae, a missionary from Washington state, was arrested in North Korea in November 2012 and sentenced to 15 years hard labor for crimes against the state. Miller, who reportedly was tried on an espionage charge, had been in custody since April this year and sentenced to six years of hard labor.
"It's a wonderful day for them and their families," President Barack Obama said at the White House. "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."
The United States had frequently called for the men to be freed for humanitarian reasons, especially since Bae was said to have health problems.
Read more @: Americans Kenneth Bae, Matthew Todd Miller Freed By North Korea: U.S. Officials
Great news! About time they come home.