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US welcomes North Korea release of American citizen

The United States welcomed North Korea's decision to release American citizen Merrill Newman, who was detained by North Korean authorities in late October on a visit as a tourist to the secretive country, the State Department said in a statement.

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US veteran held in North Korea arrives home

US War veteran Merrill Newman, detained by authorities in North Korea for more than a month, has arrived back in San Francisco today.

Merrill Newman with his wife Credit: REUTERS/Noah Berger

The tired but smiling veteran of the Korean War was holding the hand of his wife as he thanked the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang, and the US embassy in Beijing for helping to secure his release.

Mr Newman said he was "delighted to be home."

"It's been a great homecoming," he said. "I'm tired, but ready to be with my family."

The 85-year-old was detained in late October at the end of a 10-day trip to North Korea, a visit that came six decades after he oversaw a group of South Korean wartime guerrillas during the 1950-53 war.

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