President Trump greets American prisoners freed by North Korea

Since 1996, 14 Americans have been detained in North Korea.

Here's who they are and how long they were held:

Kim Dong Chul, 30 months

Kim Hak-song, 12 months

Kim Sang Duk, 12 months

Otto Warmbier, 17 months *returned in a vegetative state, died days later

Kenneth Bae, 24 months

Matthew Todd Miller, seven months

Jeffrey Fowle, five months

Merril Newman, about two months

Eddie Yong Su Jun, about six months

Aijalon Mahli Gomes, about seven months

Robert Park, fewer than two months

Laura Ling, about five months

Euna Lee, about five months

Evan Hunziker, three months

In addition, a number of American servicemen have also been detained in North Korea following the end of the Korean War in 1953. The crew of the USS Pueblo was held after their ship was captured 50 years ago (they've since sued the North Korean government.) Two American soldiers defected to the North and are believed to be held after their initial crossings. James Dresnok and Charles Jenkins both crossed the heavily militarized border separating the two Koreas in 1962 and 1965, respectively.

Dresnok was thought to be the last remaining American soldier in the country before his sons revealed last year that his father had died. Jenkins returned to the US in the early 2000s and was dishonorably discharged and spent fewer than 30 days in jail. He died in December.

A plane carrying the freed Americans from North Korea has taken off from Anchorage, Alaska, according to pool reports.

A State Department official confirmed all three Americans were on a plane that took off for Joint Base Andrews. None of them split off in Alaska. 

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s plane took off separately.

The Americans are scheduled to arrive at Joint Base Andrews between 2:30 a.m. ET and 2:45 a.m. ET.

President Trump said he will greet the Americans when they land.

The three Americans freed from North Korea just issued a joint statement:

Three Americans detained in North Korea have arrived in the US.

A plane carrying Kim Dong Chul, Kim Hak-song and Kim Sang Duk, also known as Tony Kim, landed in Anchorage, Alaska at 5:21 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

The plane is refueling before it heads to Washington. President Trump will greet the group tomorrow morning.

Watch the moment:

With CNN's Laura Koran

President Trump took to Twitter Wednesday night to share his excitement about meeting three American detainees who were on their way to the US.

Kim Dong Chul, Kim Hak-song and Kim Sang Duk (also known as Tony Kim) were detained in North Korea.

While Kim Dong Chul has been in North Korean custody since before Trump was elected, the other two detainees were arrested last spring, after Trump's inauguration and as tensions between Washington and Pyongyang were beginning to ramp up.

They will likely arrive in the US tomorrow morning.

North Korea leader Kim Jong Un released the three American detainees at the request of President Trump, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

“He accepted an official suggestion of the US president for the release of Americans who have been detained in the DPRK for their anti-DPRK hostilities, and gave an order of the chairman of the DPRK State Affairs Commission on granting amnesty to them for their repatriation,” state-run news agency reported.

The Americans, Kim Dong Chul, Kim Hak-song and Kim Sang Duk (also known as Tony Kim), are on their way right now to the US with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Three US nationals, who were detained in North Korea, could arrive in the US around 5 a.m. ET or 6 a.m. ET, CNN's Will Ripley reported.

Earlier today, President Trump said he was planning to greet the Americans, Kim Dong Chul, Kim Hak-song and Kim Sang Duk (also known as Tony Kim), in Washington at 2 a.m. ET.

"Again, it's everything that President Trump loves," Ripley said. "It's a photo op. It's pretty dramatic. These three men who have been in North Korean custody walking out."

Tony Kim, whose grandchild was born while he was detained, and Kim Hak-song will be reunited with his family. 

Kim Dong Chu, the longest prisoner, had one of the toughest ordeals because he was isolated and served hard labor inside a prison.

"For him especially, you can imagine it's going to be a very difficult road ahead, quite an adjustment," Ripley said. 

President Trump said Wednesday he is "honored" by the release of the three Americans who were held in North Korea.

"We're honored by the fact that the three gentlemen are coming home, and I look forward to seeing you," Trump said during a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

The President added that the US is having "serious and positive communications with North Korea," a situation he believed many people would have "never thought" possible.

President Trump was just asked if something could still "scuttle" his potential meeting with Kim Jong Un, which is being negotiated.

"Everything can be scuttled, everything can be scuttled. A lot of things can happen. A lot of good things can happen, a lot of bad things can happen," Trump said.

"I believe that both sides will negotiate a deal. I think it's going to be a very successful deal. I think we have a really good shot and making it successful. But lots of things could happen," he added.