Merill Newman is the 85 year old American Korean War vet who was on a tour when North Korea took him off a plane a month ago, and arrested him. More on his story here.
So glad for his family, especially his wife.
We’ll find out in due course what, if anything, was done to get him free.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea said Saturday it has deported an elderly U.S. tourist and war veteran detained for more than a month for alleged hostile acts against the country.
North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency said it made the decision because 85-year-old Merrill Newman had apologized for his alleged crimes during the Korean War and on a recent trip to the country and because of his age and medical condition.
Newman has yet to speak publicly and it was unclear Saturday where he’d been deported to. It wasn’t clear if his alleged confession shown on state TV last month was coerced.
He was taken off a plane Oct. 26 by North Korean authorities while preparing to leave the country after a 10-day tour.
Update:
Newman was deported to China. According to Fox, Newman was met by U.S. embassy staff in Beijing.
“I’m very glad to be on my way home,” Newman told Japanese media at Beijing airport, Reuters reported. “I feel good, I feel good. I want to go home to see my wife.”
Vice President Joe Biden, who is currently in South Korea on a three-nation Asian tour, praised North Korea for releasing Merrill and said he played “no direct role” in securing the veteran’s release.
Biden said he offered Merrill a ride home on Air Force Two, but said the Palo Alto, Calif. resident decided to take a direct flight to San Francisco, so he could return home more quickly.
“We are pleased that Mr. Merrill Newman has been allowed to depart the (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) and re-join his family,” Deputy State Department spokesperson Marie Harf said in a statement after Newman’s release. “We welcome the DPRK’s decision to release him.”
