North Korea freed two Americans, Kenneth Bae and Matthew Todd Miller, from prison and they returned to the United States on Saturday after the surprise involvement of the top-ranking U.S. intelligence official in their release. 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.
Americans Freed by North Korea Arrive in United States
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Kenneth Bae, who had been held in North Korea since 2012, waits to talk to reporters at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, Nov. 8, 2014.
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Kenneth Bae, second from left, who had been held in North Korea since 2012, is greeted after arriving at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, Nov. 8, 2014.
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Kenneth Bae, center, who had been held in North Korea since 2012, is hugged after arriving at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, Nov. 8, 2014.
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Matthew Miller, who had been held in North Korea since April 2014, walks off the plane after arriving at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, Nov. 8, 2014.