国际英语新闻：Carter returns to U.S. from DPRK with freed American citizen

He also asked Kim to convey to top DPRK leader Kim Jong Il a message courteously requesting him to grant special pardon to Gomes to leniently forgive him and let him go home.

The KCNA said after receiving a report on the request made by the U.S. government and Carter, Kim Jong Il issued an order of the chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission on granting amnesty to Gomes.

The U.S. State Department welcomed the release of Gomes, saying in a statement that "we appreciate former president Carter's humanitarian effort and welcome the DPRK's decision to grant Mr. Gomes special amnesty and allow him to return to the United States. "

In a related development, the KCNA reported that Kim Yong Nam said during his meeting with Carter that the DPRK is willing to resume six-party talks on the nuclear issue of the Korean peninsula.