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THE US STATE Department has announced the release of two Americans who had been held by the government of North Korea.
“The Department of State welcomes the release of US citizens Kenneth Bae and Matthew Todd Miller from the DPRK, where they have been held for two years and seven months, respectively,” it said in a statement.
The State Department said the two Americans were freed with the help of US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, who traveled to North Korea and “engaged on behalf of the United States in discussions with DPRK authorities about the release of two citizens,” the statement said.
A senior State Department official added that there was “no quid pro quo” for North Korea freeing the two Americans.
Their release comes just two weeks after Pyongyang freed American Jeffrey Fowle, 56, who was imprisoned in April after apparently leaving a Bible in a nightclub bathroom.
“The safety and welfare of US citizens abroad is the Department of State’s highest priority, and the United States has long called on DPRK authorities to release these individuals on humanitarian grounds. We join their families and friends in welcoming them home.”
Bae, a Korean-American missionary, earlier this week marked the two-year anniversary of his detention by the reclusive state.
The sickly 42-year-old was arrested in November 2012 and later sentenced to 15 years’ hard labour.
Miller, 24, had been sentenced to six years’ hard labour by the North Korean Supreme Court following his arrest in April, after he allegedly ripped up his visa at immigration and demanded asylum.
Washington has condemned Pyongyang over the detentions, saying the Americans were held as political hostages to extract diplomatic concessions.
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Ulster looked a lot better tonight. They’re obviously far from the finished product but it’s a positive sign that they can string together more than five consecutive phases in attack. That young academy scrum-half Conor McKee was very good and his kicking from the base of the ruck was very accurate all match. Stewart Moore was excellent at fullback again and set the platform the Ulster backs by winning the contest in the air from kicks excellently. I cannot be stated enough how much Ulster needed this win. After losing 8 out their last 10 matches, it was crucial that they got any sort of victory tonight to keep their chances of making the URC knockout stages alive and they managed to do that. Even though I’m a Leinster supporter, I’ll still cheer for Ulster whenever they play anyone else.
Ireland needs to step up and step up and invest all the apple money into the Ukraine war effort. Time to stop being such pansies and fight:
@Basildon Joe: for a moment I thought you were going to suggest invest in Ulster rugby
@You Cant Be Serious: is Joe really English ? They seemed to be a bit smarter than that when I lived there.
@Basildon Joe: Time to accept that supporting Ukraine properly will have a cost and the Apple money isn’t done sort of endless free well of money. I’m happy to pay it but are you?
@Basildon Joe: So keen to send Irish kids to Ukraine to die why not do us a favour and head there yourself? Hopefully the Russians do us a favour
This report was brought to you by the Department of Government Efficiency.
Yet again the uk leading the war effort, we always win!
@Basildon Joe: yawn
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