Freed by North Korea, two Americans return to US

American Kenneth Bae steps onto home soil, two years after he was first detained by North Korea.

He's one of two U.S. citizens freed in recent days -- the other is Matthew Todd Miller, who went to Pyongyang in April this year.

Bae, a Korean-American missionary, was accused of trying to overthrow the North Korean state and was sentenced to 15 years of hard labour.

He says he's grateful to be back.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) KENNETH BAE, AMERICAN RELEASED FROM PRISON IN NORTH KOREA, SAYING:

"It's been an amazing two years. I learnt a lot. I grew a lot. I lost a lot of weight, in a good way. But I'm standing strong because of you."

North Korean state media said Miller was tried on an espionage charge and was originally given a six-year sentence of hard labour.

U.S. officials say there were no negotiations made with Pyongyang, and it's unclear why they released the Americans.