Americans freed in North Korea

The last two Americans being held in North Korea, Kenneth Bae and Matthew Miller, were released and allowed to return home on Nov. 9. Their release was the result of direct talks between North Korean authorities and the US Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper. The North Korean authorities reportedly released them willingly and without asking for concessions.

Both Bae and Miller had been convicted of crimes against the state and sentenced to hard labor. Bae had been arrested while doing Christian missionary work, a crime in North Korea, and Miller was arrested after tearing up his visa and requesting asylum.