*ALMA MATER : THE PYONGYANG UNIVERSITY*

THE PYONGYANG UNIVERSITY : Agriculture expert Kim Hak-song and former accounting professor Tony Kim were both lecturers at the institution -

But were arrested by North Korean authorities just as they were leaving the country.

The university previously said their detentions were ''not connected in any way with the work of PUST,'' and it is understood the  duo may have come to the attention of the Pyongyang authorities  through previous Christian activities elsewhere.

The two along with fellow detainee Kim Dong-chul, were granted ''amnesty'' by Pyongyang  following:

A meeting between Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and North Korean leader Kim Jung-un and landed back in the United States to be welcomed by President Donald Trump,

''Our Hopes and Prayers'' have been fulfilled by their release,'' PUST said in a statement.

The university expressed ''sincere hope''  that the detainees would be able to  :  ''Now enjoy some peace and rest  with their families and friends, and begin to rebuild normal lives''.

 The school itself has faced indirect repercussions from their detentions. Tony Kim was arrested in April last year, Kim Hak-song the following month.

Weeks later  American student  Otto Warmbier, who had been sentenced to 15 years in prison for trying to steal a propaganda poster, was released in a mysterious coma and died shortly afterwards.

That prompted  Washington to  slap   a travel ban  on US citizens.

ABOUT half of the   PUST's  80-odd  foreign faculty    were Americans who have been unable to return for this academic year as a result, and it has filled the gaps with Chinese replacements.

It has also had problems transferring  funds and importing materials due to the sanctions imposed on the  North  over its nuclear programme by the UN Security Council and others.

The Honor and Serving of the latest Operational Research on the state of the world continues to Part 3.