Freeing an American

One cannot help but be happy for Aijalon Gomes and his family. The Boston man was held captive for seven months in North Korea until released to former President Jimmy Carter this week on humanitarian grounds.

Mr. Gomes, who was teaching English in South Korea before crossing into North Korea in January, was the fourth American in a year arrested for trespassing in repressive North Korea.

Former President Bill Clinton freed journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee last August, and Christian Robert Park strayed there in December, to be expelled 40 days later after issuing an apology to the government.

It is not known why Mr. Gomes entered the communist nation. He was sentenced to eight years' hard labor, and reportedly was unwell.

Mr. Carter pressed North Korea for the American's release, and Kim Jong Il agreed to "leniently forgive" Mr. Gomes so long as the former American president arrived in North Korea to take him home.

Jimmy Carter met the conditions set by North Korea and Mr. Gomes is now home. Too bad North Korea did not send Mr. Gomes back across the border in the first place. But former President Carter is to be commended for fulfilling this errand of mercy.