North Korea has freed Eddie Jun Yongsu, an American Christian detained since November 2010.

Jun's release Saturday comes after a U.S. team led by envoy Robert King negotiated the 55-year-old's emancipation.

"Words cannot fully express how overjoyed we are to be reunited with our husband and father," the Jun family said in a statement given to CNN.

"We are grateful that the DPRK government has granted our plea for his humanitarian release; further, we sincerely thank them for taking care of his health," they said.

The Korean American from California had been held in a North Korean prison on unspecified charges.

The North Korean government accused Jun of committing a serious crime, but gave no details. Media reports say Jun and two Chinese men were doing missionary work when authorities arrested them.

The communist nation views any religious activity as a potential threat to the regime. North Korea's state news agency said Jun was released on "humanitarian grounds.