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US veteran Merrill Newman 'delighted to be home' after North Korea ordeal US veteran Merrill Newman 'delighted to be home' after North Korea ordeal
(about 1 hour later)
A tired but smiling 85-year-old veteran of the Korean War who was detained for several weeks in North Korea landed a free man Saturday at the San Francisco airport. His United Airlines flight landed shortly after 9am local time, a witness said. A tired but smiling 85-year-old veteran of the Korean War who was detained for several weeks in North Korea landed a free man Saturday at the San Francisco airport. His United Airlines flight landed shortly after 9am local time, a witness said. 
Holding the hand of his wife and accompanied by his son, Merrill Newman thanked the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang and US embassy in Beijing for helping to secure his release. He told the assembled media he was "delighted to be home" but declined to answer any questions after making a brief statement.Holding the hand of his wife and accompanied by his son, Merrill Newman thanked the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang and US embassy in Beijing for helping to secure his release. He told the assembled media he was "delighted to be home" but declined to answer any questions after making a brief statement.
"It's been a great homecoming," he said. "I'm tired, but ready to be with my family.”"It's been a great homecoming," he said. "I'm tired, but ready to be with my family.”
Aside from an awkwardly worded alleged confession last month, Newman had not spoken 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. His visit came six decades after he oversaw a group of South Korean guerrillas during the 1950-53 war. North Korea deported him on Friday.Aside from an awkwardly worded alleged confession last month, Newman had not spoken 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. His visit came six decades after he oversaw a group of South Korean guerrillas during the 1950-53 war. North Korea deported him on Friday.
"I am very glad to be on my way home," a smiling Newman had told reporters earlier, after arriving in Beijing from Pyongyang. "And I appreciate the tolerance the [North Korean] government has given to me to be on my way.""I am very glad to be on my way home," a smiling Newman had told reporters earlier, after arriving in Beijing from Pyongyang. "And I appreciate the tolerance the [North Korean] government has given to me to be on my way."
A senior Obama administration official said the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang had been "heroic" in its efforts to get to see Newman but he suggested it was ultimately a mystery why the North Koreans chose to release him. "Who knows? We can only speculate," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.A senior Obama administration official said the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang had been "heroic" in its efforts to get to see Newman but he suggested it was ultimately a mystery why the North Koreans chose to release him. "Who knows? We can only speculate," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
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 administration official added that "all efforts are now on [Kenneth] Bae," referring to another US citizen being detained by North Korea, who has been held since November 2012. Bae, a Korean American who worked as a Christian missionary, was convicted by North Korea in May of crimes against the state. He has been serving a 15-year hard-labor sentence. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf urged Pyongyang to pardon Bae "as a humanitarian gesture".
The US vice-president, Joe Biden, who is in Seoul, South Korea, welcomed the release and said he had talked by phone to Newman in Beijing, offering him a ride home on Air Force Two. Biden said Newman declined because there was a direct flight to his home state of California later on Saturday. The US vice-president, Joe Biden, who is in Seoul, South Korea, welcomed the release and said he had talked by phone to Newman in Beijing, offering him a ride home on Air Force Two. Biden said Newman declined because there was a direct flight to his home state of California later on Saturday. 
"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."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.
Before Newman's arrival home his son, Jeffrey, read a statement that said: "As you can imagine this has been a very difficult ordeal for us as a family, and particularly for him." The family said they would say more about Newman's unusual journey after he had rested.Before Newman's arrival home his son, Jeffrey, read a statement that said: "As you can imagine this has been a very difficult ordeal for us as a family, and particularly for him." The family said they would say more about Newman's unusual journey after he had rested.
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. 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. 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. 
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 trained and reconnect them with their wartime colleagues living in South Korea, and criticising the North during his trip. Newman's comments have not been independently confirmed. 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 trained and reconnect them with their wartime colleagues living in South Korea, and criticising the North during his trip. Newman's comments have not been independently confirmed.
Some of those former guerrillas of the Kuwol unit in Seoul remembered 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.Some of those former guerrillas of the Kuwol unit in Seoul remembered 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'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 it had maintained its dignity, Chang said. Chang added that detaining Newman also hurt Pyongyang's efforts to encourage tourism.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 it had maintained its dignity, Chang said. Chang added that 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."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.
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.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.
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.
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