- 8 updates
North Korea detainee 'apology'
North Korea have released a video showing an elderly US citizen apologising for alleged war crimes during the Korean War.
85-year-old Merrill Newman was seized from a flight out of Pyongyang on October 26, and has been detained ever since.
Live updates
US detainee in North Korea 'apologises for war crimes'
North Korea have released a video showing an elderly US citizen apologising for alleged war crimes during the Korean War.
85-year-old Merrill Newman was seized from a flight out of the communist dictatorship on October 26, and has been detained ever since.
His family say they have not been able to speak to him, and are extremely worried about him.
Mr Newman is a Korean War veteran, and his family said he was travelling with permission, accompanied by guides.
In a statement, his family said that the Swedish ambassador had visited him at a Pyongyang hotel and found him to be in good health, and being treated well.
The family pleaded with the North Korean authorities to take Mr Newman's health and age into account and let him go as an act of humanitarian compassion.
US calls on North Korea to release war veteran
The US called on North Korea to release an elderly US military veteran held in custody since last month and who Pyongyang accused of killing civilians during the Korean War 60 years ago.
Swedish embassy officials were granted access on Saturday to visit Merrill E. Newman, the State Department said, the first access by Western officials to him since his arrest.
"On November 30, the DPRK permitted the Embassy of Sweden, protecting power for issues involving U.S. citizens in North Korea, consular access to U.S. citizen Merrill Newman," a State Department official said in a statement.
"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," the official added, using the acronym for the North's formal name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Advertisement
Swedish embassy in N. Korea negotiating for US citizen
North Korean officials have told the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang that they are holding an American but have not confirmed it was Korean War veteran Merrill Newman, who was pulled from a plane on October 26 while preparing to leave the communist nation after a 10-day tour.
The Swedish embassy is negotiating on a daily basis on behalf of Newman because the US has no diplomatic ties to North Korea, US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters in Washington DC.
Few renowned Americans make it into North Korea
From high level envoys to classical musicians, here is a list of Americans who have visited North Korea.
- Former US President Jimmy Carter in 1994
- Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in 2000
- Former US nuclear negotiator Chris Hill in 2007 - 2008
- New York Philharmonic Orchestra in 2008
- Former US President Bill Clinton in 2009
- Google chairman Eric Schmidt in January 2013
- Former NBA star Dennis Rodman in March 2013
'Anxious' family appeal to North Korea over grandfather
The family of an 85-year-old Korean War veteran detained by North Korean authorities during a trip to the Asian nation have publicly appealed to Pyongyang for his safe return home to California.
US citizen 'held in North Korea since October 26'
The wife of Merrill Newman, the 85-year-old Korean War veteran being held in North Korea, said her husband was being detained following a "misunderstanding" as he was leaving the country on October 26, the New York Daily News reports.
In a statement released by the nursing where home the couple live, Lee Newman said her husband had been planning the trip for some time, and had permission to visit.
Advertisement
Family concern over 85-year-old held in North Korea
The family of Merrill Newman, the 85-year-old man being detained by authorities in North Korea, said they are extremely concerned for his health and well-being as they appealed for his release.
Merrill Newman's son Jeff said he does not not whether heart medication sent to North Korea had reached him, and said he had not spoken to his father since he was detained, nearly a month ago.
North Korea detains US citizen
North Korea has confirmed through officials in Pyongyang that it has detained a US citizen, the US State Department said.
The statement comes amid reports that an 85-year-old California man was pulled off a plane as he was about to leave the country. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters:
The family of Merrill Newman, a Korean War veteran from California, said he was taken away by North Korean officials.