CONFIRMED: Mike Pompeo is wheels up from North Korea with the 3 hostages

GREAT NEWS out of North Korea where President Donald Trump reports that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is en route back to America WITH THE THREE HOSTAGES:

I am pleased to inform you that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in the air and on his way back from North Korea with the 3 wonderful gentlemen that everyone is looking so forward to meeting. They seem to be in good health. Also, good meeting with Kim Jong Un. Date & Place set.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 9, 2018

The president said he’ll be there to greet them when they land:

I am pleased to inform you that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in the air and on his way back from North Korea with the 3 wonderful gentlemen that everyone is looking so forward to meeting. They seem to be in good health. Also, good meeting with Kim Jong Un. Date & Place set.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 9, 2018

This really is fantastic:

This is unambiguously good news. A concrete confidence building measure from DPRK, at long last.

And yet, it must be noted that this is why you take hostages. So that you can appear to be conceding something in a negotiation when you've given up virtually nothing. https://t.co/uzqtiRAP77

— Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) May 9, 2018

After less than 24 hours in North Korea, Pompeo heads back to the U.S. with the three detained Americans. Big news. https://t.co/sFZobDgiOe

— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) May 9, 2018

Even Trump critics agree:

Thank you for securing their release, Mr. President. We thank you.

Now about your personal attorney and possible bank fraud issues… https://t.co/0e4omMGIhT

— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) May 9, 2018

The release of these Americans is unequivocally good news and a major diplomatic achievement for Pompeo's second week on the job. https://t.co/UoNAD02Ge5

— Susan Hennessey (@Susan_Hennessey) May 9, 2018

But not all of them:

It is also important to note that every president has negotiated successful hostage releases. Trump is not special in that regard. https://t.co/ak7scONvoq

— Terrell J. Starr (@Russian_Starr) May 9, 2018

Hope they’ve been following the news whilst in North Korean prison, otherwise they are going to be very surprised when they land at the air base and are greeted by that guy from The Apprentice. https://t.co/WcPk6tv2pd

— Matthew Chance (@mchancecnn) May 9, 2018

Sigh.

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