The North’s release of the three Korean Americans, who have been held for as long as two years and seven months, is a goodwill gesture designed to show Trump ahead of the summit that the North is serious about improving relations with the US.

The three men -- Kim Hak-song, Tony Kim and Kim Dong-chul -- were detained in North Korea on charges of espionage or “hostile acts” against the regime.

The planned meeting between Trump and Kim heightened expectations for their release.

Pompeo flew to Pyongyang Tuesday to prepare for the unprecedented summit. It was his second trip there since Easter weekend.

Trump has said he will sit down with Kim late this month or early next month to discuss the dismantlement of the regime’s nuclear weapons program.

Possible sites include the Demilitarized Zone dividing the Koreas, and Singapore. (Yonhap)