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Merrill Newman has arrived in San Francisco after being released by North Korea.
North Korea’s state news agency said Merrill Newman was expelled on “humanitarian grounds” after confessing to “crimes” in the 1950-53 war and “apologizing”.
The US veteran of the Korean War had been held since October 26 on charges of “hostile acts” against the North, while visiting as a tourist.
Although Merrill Newman, 85, did serve during the Korean War, his family says he is the victim of mistaken identity.
Merrill Newman has arrived in San Francisco after being released by North Korea
The US welcomed Pyongyang’s decision.
“We are pleased that Mr. Merrill Newman has been allowed to depart the DPRK [North Korea] and re-join his family. We welcome the DPRK’s decision to release him,” said state department spokeswoman Marie Harf.
“I’m delighted to be home,” Merrill Newman said in San Francisco.
“It’s been a great homecoming. I’m tired, but ready to be with my family.”
He thanked the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang and US embassy in Beijing for helping to secure his release.
Merrill Newman – a pensioner from Palo Alto, California – had been held in North Korea since being taken off a plane as he prepared to leave the country on October 26, following a 10-day tourist visit.
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North Korea has decided to deport US citizen Merrill Newman, who had been detained in the country since October.
State news agency KCNA says Merrill Newman was expelled on “humanitarian grounds” after confessing to “crimes” in the 1950-53 war and “apologizing”.
Merrill Newman, 85, had been held on charges of “hostile acts” against the North, while visiting as a tourist.
The US state department welcomed the decision to free Merrill Newman, who has now arrived in Beijing.
“We are pleased that Mr. Merrill Newman has been allowed to depart the DPRK (North Korea) and re-join his family. We welcome the DPRK’s decision to release him,” said state department spokeswoman Marie Harf.
“I’m very glad to be on my way home,” Merrill Newman told Japanese reporters after arriving in the Chinese capital.
North Korea has decided to deport US citizen Merrill Newman, who had been detained in the country since October
“And I appreciate the tolerance the DPRK government has given to me to be on my way. I feel good. I want to go home to see my wife.”
Last week, KCNA said Merrill Newman had ordered the deaths of North Korean soldiers and civilians in the Korean War.
Although Merrill Newman did serve during the Korean War, his family says he is the victim of mistaken identity.
Merril Newman – a pensioner from Palo Alto, California – had been held in North Korea since being taken off a plane as he prepared to leave the country on October 26, following a 10-day tourist visit.
In a video released by North Korean authorities last week, Merrill Newman was shown reading his alleged apology, dated November 9.
It claims he was an “adviser of the Kuwol Unit of the UN Korea 6th Partisan Regiment part of the Intelligence Bureau of the Far East Command” – an apparent reference to one of the special operations units acting against the North.
Merrill Newman apparently confessed to trying to contact surviving soldiers during his trip as a tourist.
The statement added: “Please forgive me.”
However, Merrill Newman’s family said there must have been “some dreadful misunderstanding” as another veteran, also named Merrill Newman, was awarded a Silver Star medal for his efforts during the Korean War.
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The US has urged North Korea to release American citizen Merrill Newman, who is detained in Pyongyang for more than a month.
On Saturday, state media in North Korea said Merrill Newman, 85, had confessed to “indelible crimes” against the state during the 1950-53 Korean War.
It published what it described as a “statement of apology” by Merrill Newman.
The US also called on North Korea to release another American, Kenneth Bae, who is held since November 2012 and sentenced in May to 15 years’ hard labor.
The US has urged North Korea to release American citizen Merrill Newman
“We remain deeply concerned about the welfare of the US citizens held in custody in the DPRK [North Korea]” said National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden.
“Given Mr. Newman’s advanced age and health conditions, we urge the DPRK to release Mr. Newman so he may return home and reunite with his family,” she went on.
Regarding Kenneth Bae, a Korean-American, Caitlin Hayden said: “We continue to urge the DPRK authorities to grant him amnesty and immediate release.”
Pyongyang accused Kenneth Bae – described as both a tour operator and Christian missionary – of using his tourism business to plot sedition.
The official Korean Central News Agency said on Saturday that Merrill Newman had ordered the deaths of North Korean soldiers and civilians in the Korean War.
Although Merrill Newman did serve during the Korean War, his family says he is the victim of mistaken identity.
Pyongyang’s state media have routinely publicized alleged apologies from previous US detainees, which cannot be independently verified.
Authorities have previously been accused of coercing confessions from detainees.
Some observers say Merrill Newman’s alleged confession could allow North Korea to release him without formal legal proceedings.
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US citizen Merrill Newman, who is detained for more than a month in North Korea, has confessed to committing “indelible crimes” against the state, say North Korean state media.
The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Merrill Newman had ordered the deaths of North Korean soldiers and civilians in the 1950-53 Korean War.
The agency published what it described as a “statement of apology” by Merrill Newman.
Merrill Newman, now 85, did serve during the Korean War but his family says he is the victim of mistaken identity.
Pyongyang’s state media has routinely publicized alleged apologies from previous American detainees, which cannot be independently verified.
Authorities have previously been accused of coercing confessions from detainees.
Merrill Newman, who is detained for more than a month in North Korea, has confessed to committing “indelible crimes” against the state
Some observers say Merrill Newman’s alleged confession could allow North Korea to release him without formal legal proceedings.
Merrill Newman – a retiree from Palo Alto, California – has been held in North Korea since being taken off a plane as he prepared to leave the country on October 26, following a 10-day tourist visit.
In video released by North Korean authorities, Merril Newman is shown reading his alleged apology, dated November 9.
“During the Korean War, I have been guilty of a long list of indelible crimes against DPRK government and Korean people,” the 4-page statement reads, referring to North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
The statement also claims Merrill Newman was an “adviser of the Kuwol Unit of the UN Korea 6th Partisan Regiment part of the Intelligence Bureau of the Far East Command” – an apparent reference to one of the special operations units acting against the North.
Merrill Newman apparently confesses to trying to contact surviving soldiers during his trip as a tourist.
The statement adds: “Please forgive me.”
However, Merrill Newman’s family has said there must have been “some dreadful misunderstanding” and have appealed for his release, saying he may need medication.
Another veteran, also named Merrill Newman, was awarded a Silver Star medal for his efforts during the Korean War.
He has previously told Reuters news agency he thought it was possible there had been “a case of mistaken identity”.
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North Korea has acknowledged that it is holding an US citizen, the state department announces.
The captive’s identity has not been confirmed as consular access has not been granted, AP news agency reports.
The disclosure comes amid concern for Merrill Newman, 85, who was reportedly detained weeks ago in North Korea.
The news came via Swedish officials, who oversee consular issues for the US as it lacks diplomatic ties with North Korea.
Merrill Newman, a Korean War veteran, was taken off a plane by uniformed officers on October 26 at the end of a trip to North Korea
The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang had been requesting access to the American on a daily basis, a state department spokesman said.
Jeffrey Newman said his father Merrill, a Korean War veteran, was taken off a plane by uniformed officers on October 26 at the end of a trip to North Korea.
Merrill Newman was visiting the country with a friend, on a guided tour arranged with a travel agent “approved by the North Korean government for travel of foreigners”, Jeffrey Newman said.
US officials have not specifically confirmed the case, but have called on North Korea to “resolve the issue”.
Merrill Newman appeared to have discussed his experience in the Korean War with North Korean officials the day before his detention, his son added.
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North Korea has been urged by US to “let our citizens go free”, as reports say that US citizen Merrill Newman has been detained in the country.
Merrill Newman, an 85-year-old Korean War veteran, was taken off a plane by uniformed officers at the end of a guided tour in North Korea last month, his son said.
US officials have not specifically confirmed the case, but have called on North Korea to “resolve the issue”.
Another US citizen, Kenneth Bae, has been detained since last November.
Merrill Newman visited North Korea with a friend in October, his son, Jeffrey Newman said on Thursday.
The guided tour was arranged with a travel agent “approved by the North Korean government for travel of foreigners”, he added.
Merrill Newman was taken off a plane on October 26, the last day of his tour, as he was set to leave North Korea, Jeffrey Newman said.
Merrill Newman, an 85-year-old Korean War veteran, was taken off a plane by uniformed officers at the end of a guided tour in North Korea last month
The veteran appeared to have discussed his experience in the Korean War with North Korean officials the day before his detention, his son added.
Another veteran, also named Merrill Newman, was awarded a Silver Star medal for his efforts during the Korean War. In an interview with Reuters news agency, he said that he thought it was possible there had been “a case of mistaken identity”.
When asked about Merrill Newman’s detention, Secretary of State John Kerry would not comment directly on the case, but said: “They have other people, too… These are all very, very disturbing choices by the North Koreans.”
US Special Representative for North Korea Policy Glyn Davies, said: “We are calling on North Korea, as in the Kenneth Bae case, to resolve this issue and let our citizens go free.”
Glyn Davies added that he could not comment specifically about Merrill Newman’s case “because we do not have a privacy act waiver”.
The US State Department revised its travel guidance for North Korea this week, saying: “US citizens crossing into North Korea, even accidentally, have been subject to arbitrary arrest and long-term detention.”
However, a small number of tourists do enter North Korea every year.
Travel to North Korea is tightly controlled, with tourists only able to visit through tour companies that are accompanied by local guides.
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