Why do you think North Korea released the last two Americans being held?

I'm glad to see them released but I think they did it to get the attention. NK said they needed a high profile individual to negotiate and that's exactly what they got.

If you know anything about NK I think the "little man's complex" describes them best. Instead of just negotiating to get the deal done, they wanted a high ranking individual to stroke their ego. But all in all glad they're home

CW5 Montgomery, NK always seeks to get attention to look relevant.  Their warped understanding of Western Public Opinion it to seek to make themself a player on the world stage. They do not understand how such desperate acts will never gain them respect--but they will settle for attention in the meantime.  Strategic attention is their next best goal, but using what passes for strategic timing.  And if you ever watched Dr. Strangelove, there is some method to their madness to their method; if you think they are crazy you are more accepting of crazy things.  If you accept crazy things you will believe they will do even crazier things.  So you will negotiate at some point, and help prop them up simply by responding.  If you do not respond, they do crazy things. A loop that doesn't end until you end them--or someone else does.