'Goodwill gesture'

Bae and Miller, who had been forced to do hard labor for months in the secretive country, returned to the US on Saturday, November 8, after the involvement of Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, the top-ranking US intelligence official who traveled to Pyongyang to bring them home. The move comes less than weeks after Pyongyang freed another US citizen.

A senior US State Department official, who declined to be identified, was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying the release did not constitute an opening in relations with North Korea. The official said that for this to happen, Pyongyang must fulfill its commitments on denuclearization and human rights. Two days later, President Barack Obama also tempered expectations for a thaw in bilateral ties, saying the secret talks to free two prisoners were not the precursor to nuclear negotiations.

The communist regime in Pyongyang is already facing international sanctions for its nuclear program, and the UN has highlighted its record of widespread human rights abuses.

In a DW interview, North Korea analyst Michael Madden says that recent release of detainees helps North Korea's argument that it is willing to discuss human rights. However, he adds, it remains to be seen whether releasing the three men will prevent the UN from taking action against the country.

DW: North Korea has released three US prisoners in a matter of weeks, leaving no more US prisoners in the country. What are the reasons behind this move?

Michael Madden: It's primarily a goodwill gesture ahead of President Obama's visit to Beijing and his upcoming interaction with President Xi. The North Koreans are probably looking for some breathing room from the UN, but it is unclear how that will play out. Fundamentally, the North Koreans are telling the outside world they are prepared for frank discussions with other governments and international discussions. These recent activities from the North show that Pyongyang's new foreign policy shop is ready to talk.

On their way back to the US, Kenneth Bae and Matthew Todd Miller were accompanied by Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. Is there any indication that a deal was struck to bring about the prisoners' release?

The release of the American citizens is the culmination of several months of interactions between the DPRK, the US and the government of Sweden - which serves as protecting power for US citizens traveling or residing in the DPRK. There was no deal per se but the DPRK side hoped that a Cabinet-level US government official might travel to the country and DNI Clapper filled that role.

Clapper usually doesn't do diplomacy. What role did he likely play here?

DNI Clapper routinely interacts with the heads and senior management of foreign intelligence agency. In this case he was selected as an interlocutor with senior members of the DPRK's intelligence community. His primary task in Pyongyang was to listen to what the North Koreans had to say.

How is this move likely to affect North Korea's campaign to counter charges by a UN body that highlighted widespread human rights abuses?

Releasing the three detained American citizens helps the DPRK's argument that it is willing to discuss human rights. However, it remains to be seen whether releasing the three men will prevent the UN from taking action against the country.

What would it mean for Kim Young Un if he were accused in the International Criminal Court?

It would certainly attract a tremendous amount of media attention, but would otherwise be a largely symbolic gesture which we've seen with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

What impact is the prisoners' release likely to have on US-North Korean ties?

It probably will not lead to any changes in US policy on North Korea, but it might facilitate further interactions between the two countries, including Track II dialogues.

Michael Madden is a specialist on North Korea and the sole author and editor of the website NK Leadership Watch. He is also contributor to "38 North" website, operated by the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University in the United States.