Former US President Jimmy Carter has secured the release of an American citizen detained in North Korea.

美国前总统吉米·卡特确保了朝鲜政府释放其扣押的一位美国公民。

Aijalon Mahli Gomes, 31, was sentenced to eight years' hard labour in April, after being found guilty of illegally entering the country from China.

Mr Carter, who spent two days in Pyongyang, has now left with Mr Gomes.

North Korea's state media said officials told Mr Carter of Pyongyang's willingness to re-enter talks on its nuclear programme.

The North's Deputy Prime Minister Kim Yong-nam "expressed the Republic's commitment to denuclearise（撤销核武器） the Korean peninsula and resume the six-way talks," the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

Mr Carter is flying to Boston with Mr Gomes, where he will be reunited with his family later on Friday.

Stalled talks

Mr Carter met senior North Korean officials after arriving in Pyongyang on Wednesday on what was described as "a private humanitarian¹ trip".

On his arrival, Mr Carter was met by North Korea's nuclear negotiator, Kim Kye-gwan, KCNA said.

Later he held "cordial" talks with the country's deputy leader, Kim Yong-nam, the agency said.

Six-nation talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear ambitions（野心，抱负） have been stalled for several months.

Mr Carter's visit comes at a time of heightened tension between North Korea and the outside world, in the wake of（紧紧跟随） the sinking of a South Korean warship².

International investigators³ say a North Korean torpedo⁴ sank the Cheonan, which went down near the disputed inter-Korean border on 26 March with the loss of 46 sailors.

Since then, the US and South Korea have embarked⁵ on a series of joint⁶ military exercises - sparking（导致） an angry response from Pyongyang.

South Korea refuses to re-enter new talks until it has secured an apology from the North for the ship sinking - something North Korea has refused to offer as it denies any role in the incident.