Jailed American Leaves Pyongyang after Release
- 14 years ago
Jailed U.S. citizen Aijalon Mahli Gomes was released on Friday in Pyongyang, after former U.S. President Jimmy Carter secured his release.
Gomes was arrested for crossing illegally into North Korea in January and was sentenced to eight years of hard labor.
Carter arrived in Pyongyang on Wednesday afternoon.
Carter's visit took place amid heightened tensions on the peninsula after the torpedoing of a South Korean warship in March, which Seoul blames on the North. This prompted Washington to announce expanded sanctions against Pyongyang.
Shortly after Carter arrived in Pyongyang, the North's reclusive leader, Kim Jong-il, left for China on a surprise trip.
Gomes was arrested for crossing illegally into North Korea in January and was sentenced to eight years of hard labor.
Carter arrived in Pyongyang on Wednesday afternoon.
Carter's visit took place amid heightened tensions on the peninsula after the torpedoing of a South Korean warship in March, which Seoul blames on the North. This prompted Washington to announce expanded sanctions against Pyongyang.
Shortly after Carter arrived in Pyongyang, the North's reclusive leader, Kim Jong-il, left for China on a surprise trip.