American imprisoned in North Korea returns home

An American held captive for seven months in North Korea stepped off a plane in his home town today, looking thin but joyful as he hugged the former president who had helped win his release and family and friends surrounded him in a group embrace.

Aijalon Gomes was accompanied by former President Jimmy Carter, who had flown to Pyongyang to negotiate his freedom. The 31-year-old, who had been teaching English in South Korea, was imprisoned and sentenced to eight years’ hard labour for crossing into the North from China on January 25 for unknown reasons.