북한 억류 미국인 석방 임박하나; 억류 미국인 가족, 북미대화 앞두고 기대가 커져

Multiple reports say the three Americans still detained in North Korea have been released from the regime's labor camps and moved to a hotel near Pyongyang ahead of their possible release.
The Trump administration says it's looking into the details and the president himself seems to be preparing for a big announcement.
Shin Se-min reports.
President Trump taking to Twitter late Wednesday, local time:
"As everybody is aware, the past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail... Stay tuned "
His tweet was posted moments after U.S. officials confirmed they were looking into reports the three remaining American detainees in North Korea have been relocated from a labor camp to a hotel near Pyongyang.
The Financial Times quoted campaigners that said North Korea has freed the prisoners as a 'goodwill gesture.'
AFP, citing South Korean activists with contacts in the North, reports that North Korea and the U.S. are extremely close to reaching a deal on the detainees' release.
North Korea's human rights abuses are likely to make up a significant bulk of the agenda during the upcoming summit between President Trump and Kim Jong-un that should happen sometime in May or early June.
The Trump administration has long been demanding the North free the detainees -- Kim Hak-song, Tony Kim and Kim Dong-chul.
It was reportedly brought up during a one-on-one between then-CIA Director Mike Pompeo and Kim Jong-un when Pompeo -- now Secretary of State -- made a secret visit to Pyongyang in early April.
Watching this unfold before the upcoming Kim-Trump summit is surreal to a relative of one of the detained Americans.
Sol Kim says he's hopeful North Korea will take steps toward peace and release his father Tony Kim unharmed.

"It's exciting, and it is hopeful that North Korea is engaging in any form of communication with other countries,... and that they are not closed anymore."

Sol has not heard from his father since he was arrested in North Korea in April 2017.
To this day he checks in with the State Department on a weekly basis for updates.
With the latest developments that seem to be suggest his father could be home soon,... Sol says he's calm.

"Although it is exciting news,... all I can do is to be patient."

Shin Se-min, Arirang News.