The freed prisoners, Kim Dong-chul, Tony Kim and Kim Hak-song, were escorted back to the U.S. by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, arriving at Andrews Air Force Base outside of Washington, D.C., at 2:42 a.m. Thursday.

Shortly after, Trump and first lady Melania Trump boarded the plane to meet the Americans before accompanying them to the tarmac. 

"The fact we were able to get them out so soon was a tribute to a lot of things," President Trump said to a crowd of journalists. "I just want to say, this is a special night."