Photos: Trump welcomes 3 Americans detained in North Korea back to U.S.

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Staging a flag-waving, still-of-the-night arrival ceremony, President Donald Trump early Thursday welcomed home three Americans freed by North Korea and declared their release a sign of promise toward his goal of de-nuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump greet former North Korean detainee Kim Dong Chul, raising his arms, upon his arrival with two other former detainees, Tony Kim and Kim Hak Song, behind Kim Dong Chul, Thursday, May 10, 2018, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. The three Korean-Americans were greeted by Trump beneath a giant American flag after they returned to the mainland U.S. early Thursday. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Donald Trump, center left, shakes hands with Kim Dong Chul, with Tony Kim, far left and Kim Hak Song, far right, the three Americans who were detained in North Korea for over a year, upon their arrival at Andrews Air Force Base in Md., Thursday, May 10, 2018. The three Korean-Americans were greeted by Trump beneath a giant American flag after they returned to the mainland U.S. early Thursday. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Donald Trump, center left, shakes hands with Kim Hak Song with Tony Kim, far left, and Kim Dong Chul, center, three Americans detained in North Korea for over a year, as they arrive at Andrews Air Force Base in Md., Thursday, May 10, 2018. Vice President Mike Pence, behind Tony Kim, and his wife Karen Pence, behind Trump, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, far right, were also at the air force base to greet them. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Donald Trump, center, speaks as he greets Tony Kim, second left, Kim Dong Chul, fourth right, and Kim Hak Song, second right, three Americans detained in North Korea for over a year, as they arrive at Andrews Air Force Base in Md., Thursday, May 10, 2018. First lady Melania Trump, far left, Vice President Mike Pence, behind Tony Kim, and his wife Karen Pence, behind Trump, were also at the air force base to greet them. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, right, embraces former North Korean detainee Tony Kim upon their arrival, Thursday, May 10, 2018, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. Pompeo had secured their release in Pyongyang after meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on final plans for a Trump-Kim summit. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Donald Trump, from left, greets Tony Kim, Kim Hak Song and Kim Dong Chul, three Americans detained in North Korea for more than a year, as they arrive at Andrews Air Force Base in Md., Thursday, May 10, 2018. First lady Melania Trump also greets them at right. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Donald Trump, from left, greets Tony Kim, Kim Hak Song, seen in the shadow, and Kim Dong Chul, three Americans detained in North Korea for more than a year, as they arrive at Andrews Air Force Base in Md., Thursday, May 10, 2018. First lady Melania Trump also greet them at right. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump stand on the steps of a U.S. military plane carrying three Americans freed from captivity in North Korea, to greet them upon their arrival at Andrews Air Force Base in Md., Thursday, May 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

First lady Melania Trump, from right, President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen Pence arrive at Andrews Air Force Base in Md. to greet three Americans freed from captivity in North Korea, Thursday, May 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Donald Trump, left, and first lady Melania Trump, second right, arrive to greet former North Korean detainees Kim Dong Chul, Tony Kim and Kim Hak Song upon their expected arrival, Thursday, May 10, 2018, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Vice President Mike Pence, fourth from left, accompanied by his wife Karen Pence, third from left, and others arrive to greet former North Korean detainees Kim Dong Chul, Tony Kim and Kim Hak Song, Thursday, May 10, 2018, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump greet former North Korean detainee Kim Dong Chul, raising his arms, upon his arrival with two other former detainees, Tony Kim and Kim Hak Song, behind Kim Dong Chul, Thursday, May 10, 2018, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. The three Korean-Americans were greeted by Trump beneath a giant American flag after they returned to the mainland U.S. early Thursday. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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