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American Tourist Arrested in North Korea American Tourist Arrested in North Korea
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BEIJING — An 85-year-old American veteran of the Korean War was detained in North Korea last month as he was about to depart after having visited the country on a tourist visa, according to a senior United States official and an account posted Wednesday on the website of The San Jose Mercury News.BEIJING — An 85-year-old American veteran of the Korean War was detained in North Korea last month as he was about to depart after having visited the country on a tourist visa, according to a senior United States official and an account posted Wednesday on the website of The San Jose Mercury News.
The veteran, Merrill Newman, a grandfather from Palo Alto, Calif., was taken from the plane on which he was due to leave North Korea on Oct. 26, the newspaper said on its website.The veteran, Merrill Newman, a grandfather from Palo Alto, Calif., was taken from the plane on which he was due to leave North Korea on Oct. 26, the newspaper said on its website.
The detention of Mr. Newman, who was traveling with a tour group based in Beijing, came almost a year after the arrest of another American citizen, Kenneth Bae, who remains incarcerated in North Korea.The detention of Mr. Newman, who was traveling with a tour group based in Beijing, came almost a year after the arrest of another American citizen, Kenneth Bae, who remains incarcerated in North Korea.
A spokesman at the United States embassy in Beijing, Nolan Barkhouse, said, “We are aware of reports that a U.S. citizen was detained in North Korea, but we have no additional information to share at this time.”A spokesman at the United States embassy in Beijing, Nolan Barkhouse, said, “We are aware of reports that a U.S. citizen was detained in North Korea, but we have no additional information to share at this time.”
The United States official described the detention of Mr. Newman without identifying him by name. The official declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter.The United States official described the detention of Mr. Newman without identifying him by name. The official declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter.
Mr. Newman’s detention has not been reported in the North Korean state-run media.Mr. Newman’s detention has not been reported in the North Korean state-run media.
In reaction to Mr. Newman’s detention, the State Department further tightened the United States travel warning to North Korea.In reaction to Mr. Newman’s detention, the State Department further tightened the United States travel warning to North Korea.
The updated warning, released on Tuesday, begins with the statement that “the Department of State recommends against all travel by U.S. citizens to North Korea.”The updated warning, released on Tuesday, begins with the statement that “the Department of State recommends against all travel by U.S. citizens to North Korea.”
“U.S. citizens crossing into North Korea, even accidentally, have been subject to arbitrary arrest and long-term detention,” the warning adds.“U.S. citizens crossing into North Korea, even accidentally, have been subject to arbitrary arrest and long-term detention,” the warning adds.
Tours of North Korea that take American tourists to the capital, Pyongyang, and a few scenic places under strictly circumscribed conditions have become more frequent. Such tour groups provide a source of hard currency for the North Korean government, and can serve to give the impression that living standards in the capital are improving.Tours of North Korea that take American tourists to the capital, Pyongyang, and a few scenic places under strictly circumscribed conditions have become more frequent. Such tour groups provide a source of hard currency for the North Korean government, and can serve to give the impression that living standards in the capital are improving.
The new State Department advisory appears to strongly recommend against Americans joining such trips.The new State Department advisory appears to strongly recommend against Americans joining such trips.
Mr. Newman was described in The Mercury News account as a retired finance executive who had worked for California tech companies, including Convergent Technologies and Shugart Associates. Mr. Newman was described in The Mercury News account as a retired finance executive who had worked for California technology companies, including Convergent Technologies and Shugart Associates.
He served as an infantry officer during the Korean War, and later earned a master’s degree in education from Stanford University. He lived at Channing House, a retirement community, with his wife, but led an adventurous life traveling the world that included taking sailing trips around Central America, the newspaper said.He served as an infantry officer during the Korean War, and later earned a master’s degree in education from Stanford University. He lived at Channing House, a retirement community, with his wife, but led an adventurous life traveling the world that included taking sailing trips around Central America, the newspaper said.
Attempts to reach Mr. Newman’s wife at Channing House were not immediately successful. A telephone receptionist said she was not taking calls. A telephone receptionist at Channing House said his wife was not taking calls. But Channing House issued a two-sentence statement from a friend of Mr. Newman, Bob Hamrdla, in response to press queries. “There has to be a terrible misunderstanding,” the statement said. “I hope that the North Koreans will see this as a humanitarian matter and allow him to return to his family as soon as possible.”
Mr. Bae, 44, a Christian missionary, was arrested in the port of Rason in the northeast region of North Korea in November 2012 after leading a group of businessmen on a tour from the city of Yanji in northern China. Mr. Bae, 44, a Christian missionary, was arrested in the port of Rason in the Northeast region of North Korea in November 2012 after leading a group of businessmen on a tour from the city of Yanji in northern China.
In May, he was sentenced to 15 years hard labor for committing “hostile acts” against the North. The work at the prison camp was so severe that Mr. Bae became ill and he was sent to a hospital.In May, he was sentenced to 15 years hard labor for committing “hostile acts” against the North. The work at the prison camp was so severe that Mr. Bae became ill and he was sent to a hospital.
Mr. Newman is the seventh American known to have been detained in the North since 2009.Mr. Newman is the seventh American known to have been detained in the North since 2009.
The others, with the exception of Mr. Bae and Mr. Newman who were both arrested during the tenure of the new young leader, Kim Jong-un, were released or deported.The others, with the exception of Mr. Bae and Mr. Newman who were both arrested during the tenure of the new young leader, Kim Jong-un, were released or deported.
There were two occasions recently when it appeared Mr. Bae might be released.There were two occasions recently when it appeared Mr. Bae might be released.
In August, a United States special envoy for North Korean human rights, Robert King, was scheduled to travel to Pyongyang to secure his release. But at the last minute, North Korea canceled Mr. King’s trip, a setback that was interpreted by some Western analysts as evidence of power plays within the inner circle around the leader, Mr. Kim.In August, a United States special envoy for North Korean human rights, Robert King, was scheduled to travel to Pyongyang to secure his release. But at the last minute, North Korea canceled Mr. King’s trip, a setback that was interpreted by some Western analysts as evidence of power plays within the inner circle around the leader, Mr. Kim.
In October, Mr. Bae’s mother, Myunghee Bae, was permitted to visit her son for a reunion at the hospital where he was being kept in Pyongyang. She left North Korea without him.In October, Mr. Bae’s mother, Myunghee Bae, was permitted to visit her son for a reunion at the hospital where he was being kept in Pyongyang. She left North Korea without him.
Mr. Bae’s sister, Terri Chung, said in an email on Wednesday that he had not been granted any consular visits since his mother’s visit, despite repeated requests by the Swedish Embassy, which represents American interests in Pyongyang. “We’ve had no other updates since my mother’s trip,” she said.

Rick Gladstone contributed reporting from New York.

Rick Gladstone contributed reporting from New York.