North Korea Frees US Citizens From Detention

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Two US citizens held in North Korea are on their way home after being freed by the secretive state, officials have confirmed.

Kenneth Bae and Matthew Miller were being accompanied by the US government's director of national intelligence James Clapper, his office said.

President Obama welcomed the pair's release, although officials said the timing was not related to his imminent trip to China, Myanmar and Australia.

Speaking at the White House, Mr Obama said: "I think it is a wonderful day for them and their families and obviously we are very grateful for their safe return."

Mr Bae had been detained in North Korea since November 2012, while Mr Miller, 24, had been held since April.

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Korean-American missionary Mr Bae was jailed for 15 years following his conviction for crimes against the state in a trial that he said lasted an hour.

The 46-year-old from Lynnwood, Washington state, said in August that his health had deteriorated after being held at a labour camp, where he was forced to work for eight hours a day.

Following his release, Mr Bae's son told the Reuters news agency he had spoken to his father briefly by phone on Friday night.

He said: "I'm very thankful, it's awesome. I couldn't be happier. Finally it's over and he's coming home.

"The brief time on the phone, he sounded good. I'm sure he will be back to his old self in no time."

Video: Sept 2014: American Held In N Korea

Mr Miller, from Bakersfield, California, was sentenced to six years of hard labour after he was accused of tearing up his visa at Pyongyang airport and shouting that he wanted to seek asylum.

The men were released less than a month after Jeffrey Fowle, awaiting trial for leaving a Bible in a sailing club in the northern port city of Chongjin, was freed.

Mr Fowle, 56, said he was "overjoyed" but mindful of the two US citizens left behind when he returned home on 22 October.

A State Department spokeswoman thanked the Swedish government for "tireless efforts" behind the scenes to secure the pair's freedom.

The prisoner releases are being seen as part of a North Korean campaign to counter UN charges of widespread human rights abuses and the prospect of a referral to an international tribunal.

Video: Jan 2014: Bae Appeals For Freedom

"North Korean policy continues to zig-zag," said Stephan Haggard, a North Korea expert at the University of California in San Diego.

"After pursuing a charm offensive aimed at restarting North-South talks and even a human rights dialogue, North Korea shut those initiatives down following the tabling of a strongly worded human rights resolution at the UN General Assembly.

"But the release of Miller and Bae suggests an effort to keep channels for dialogue open."

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