The United States has welcomed the release of one of its citizens by North Korea following a private visit to the country by former President Jimmy Carter.
Schoolteacher Aijalon Mahli Gomes had been sentenced to eight years hard labour for illegally entering the country from China.
US State Department spokesman Philip Crowley stressed that Mr Carter's trip was a 'private, humanitarian and unofficial mission' and that the US government had neither proposed nor arranged it.
Mr Crowley added that the State Department 'concurred' with Mr Carter's decision to accept North Korea's invitation, because Mr Gomes' health was at serious risk if he did not receive immediate care in the US.
