Two Americans freed from North Korea have returned home after the surprise involvement of the top-ranking US intelligence official who travelled to Pyongyang to secure their release.
Kenneth Bae and Matthew Todd Miller had been doing hard labour for months in North Korea.
They were accompanied on their journey home by Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, his office said.
Their release comes less than three weeks after another American was freed by Pyongyang.
A Boeing C-40 Clipper plane carrying the two freed Americans landed at about 9pm local time (5am Irish time) at Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma in Washington state.
Both men hugged family members who met them on the tarmac.
Mr Bae, a missionary from Washington, was arrested in North Korea in November 2012 and sentenced to 15 years hard labour for crimes against the state.
Mr Miller, who reportedly was tried on an espionage charge, had been in custody since April this year and was serving a six-year hard labour sentence.
The United States had frequently called for the men to be freed for humanitarian reasons, especially since Mr Bae was said to have health problems.
There was no immediate mention of their release on North Korea state media.
CNN said the North Korean government had issued a statement about the release, saying it received an "earnest apology" from US President Barack Obama for the men's actions.
It also said the two were "sincerely repentant of their crimes and (were) behaving themselves while serving their terms".
According to the statement, the first chairman of North Korea's National Defence Commission, the country's leader Kim Jong Un, ordered the release.
North Korea has been on a diplomatic campaign to counter charges by a UN body that highlighted widespread human rights abuses and a move by some UN members to refer the state to an international tribunal.
However, it was not clear what prompted Pyongyang to free the two men at this time.
Their release did not constitute an opening in relations with North Korea, said a senior State Department official, who declined to be identified.
The official said for that to happen, Pyongyang must fulfil its commitments on denuclearisation and human rights.
"He (Clapper) was not there to negotiate. And our position hasn't changed."
Speaking at the White House, Mr Obama said: "It's a wonderful day for them and their families."
"Obviously we are very grateful for their safe return and I appreciate Director Clapper doing a great job on what was obviously a challenging mission."
