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| North Korea deports US veteran Merrill Newman | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| North Korea has deported an elderly US tourist who was detained for more than a month, ending the saga of Merrill Newman's return to the North six decades after he advised South Korean guerrillas who are still loathed by Pyongyang. | |
| The US vice-president, Joe Biden, who is in South Korea, called Newman shortly after the 85-year-old landed in Beijing from North Korea. | |
| "The DPRK today released someone they never should have had in the first place," Biden said, referring to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the country's official name. "At least there's one bright piece of sunshine, that he will be released and return to his family." | |
| Biden said he had "played no direct role" in securing Newman's release and offered no thoughts on why the North decided to release him. | |
| North Korea said it was releasing Newman because had apologised for his alleged crimes during the Korean war and because of his age and medical condition, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency. | |
| Aside from an awkwardly worded alleged confession last month, Newman has yet to speak publicly since being taken off a plane by North Korean authorities on 26 October while preparing to leave the country after a 10-day tour. | |
| State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf urged Pyongyang to pardon "as a humanitarian gesture" another American, Kenneth Bae, who has been held in the North for more than a year. | State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf urged Pyongyang to pardon "as a humanitarian gesture" another American, Kenneth Bae, who has been held in the North for more than a year. |
| Members of a group of former South Korean guerrillas who fought behind enemy lines during the 1950-53 Korean war said in an interview last week with the Associated Press that Newman was their adviser. Some have expressed surprise that Newman would take the risk of visiting North Korea given his association with their group, which is still remembered with keen hatred in the North. | Members of a group of former South Korean guerrillas who fought behind enemy lines during the 1950-53 Korean war said in an interview last week with the Associated Press that Newman was their adviser. Some have expressed surprise that Newman would take the risk of visiting North Korea given his association with their group, which is still remembered with keen hatred in the North. |
| The televised statement read by Newman said he was apologising for killing North Koreans during the war, attempting to meet surviving guerrilla fighters he had training during the conflict and reconnect them with their wartime colleagues living in South Korea, and criticising the North during his recent trip. | The televised statement read by Newman said he was apologising for killing North Koreans during the war, attempting to meet surviving guerrilla fighters he had training during the conflict and reconnect them with their wartime colleagues living in South Korea, and criticising the North during his recent trip. |
| Newman's comments have not been independently confirmed. | Newman's comments have not been independently confirmed. |
| Newman's political value had "expired" for North Korea, said Chang Yong Seok, a senior researcher at Seoul National University's Institute for Peace and Unification Studies. Newman's written apology and the TV broadcast were enough for Pyongyang to show outsiders that it had maintained its dignity, Chang said. | Newman's political value had "expired" for North Korea, said Chang Yong Seok, a senior researcher at Seoul National University's Institute for Peace and Unification Studies. Newman's written apology and the TV broadcast were enough for Pyongyang to show outsiders that it had maintained its dignity, Chang said. |
| Chang said detaining Newman also hurt Pyongyang's efforts to encourage tourism. "Keeping a tourist who entered the country after state approval doesn't look good for a country that is trying to boost its tourism industry," he said. | Chang said detaining Newman also hurt Pyongyang's efforts to encourage tourism. "Keeping a tourist who entered the country after state approval doesn't look good for a country that is trying to boost its tourism industry," he said. |
| Some of those former guerrillas of the Kuwol unit in Seoul remember Newman as a handsome, thin American lieutenant who got them rice, clothes and weapons during the later stages of the war but largely left the fighting to them. | Some of those former guerrillas of the Kuwol unit in Seoul remember Newman as a handsome, thin American lieutenant who got them rice, clothes and weapons during the later stages of the war but largely left the fighting to them. |
| Newman oversaw guerrilla actions and gave the fighters advice, but he was not involved in day-to-day operations, according to the former rank-and-file members and analysts. Newman was scheduled to visit South Korea to meet former Kuwol fighters after his North Korea trip. | Newman oversaw guerrilla actions and gave the fighters advice, but he was not involved in day-to-day operations, according to the former rank-and-file members and analysts. Newman was scheduled to visit South Korea to meet former Kuwol fighters after his North Korea trip. |
| After he was detained, Newman was visited at a Pyongyang hotel by the Swedish ambassador, his family said in a statement, and he appeared to be in good health, receiving his heart medicine and being checked by medical personnel. Sweden handles American citizens' interests in Pyongyang as the North and the United States have no formal diplomatic ties. | After he was detained, Newman was visited at a Pyongyang hotel by the Swedish ambassador, his family said in a statement, and he appeared to be in good health, receiving his heart medicine and being checked by medical personnel. Sweden handles American citizens' interests in Pyongyang as the North and the United States have no formal diplomatic ties. |
| Jeffrey Newman has previously said that his father, an avid traveller and retired finance executive from California, had always wanted to return to the country where he fought during the Korean War. | Jeffrey Newman has previously said that his father, an avid traveller and retired finance executive from California, had always wanted to return to the country where he fought during the Korean War. |
| Before Newman, North Korea detained at least six Americans since 2009; five of them have been either released or deported after prominent Americans such as former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter travelled to Pyongyang. | Before Newman, North Korea detained at least six Americans since 2009; five of them have been either released or deported after prominent Americans such as former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter travelled to Pyongyang. |
| The sixth detainee, Bae, has been held for more than a year Bae. He is a Korean-American missionary and tour operator whom the North accuses of subversion. | The sixth detainee, Bae, has been held for more than a year Bae. He is a Korean-American missionary and tour operator whom the North accuses of subversion. |
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