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Tag: Merrill Newman

  • Merrill Newman Returns Home to California

    Merrill Newman Returns Home to California

    Merrill Newman, the U.S. veteran who was detained in North Korea for a few weeks, has returned home safely to his wife in California. The 85-year-old smiled for photographers and spoke of turning down a ride on Air Force Two, courtesy of Vice President Joe Biden, in order to get home to his wife in a more timely manner.

    Held for war crimes he supposedly committed during the Korean War between 1950 and 1953, Newman had to read a confession that clearly wasn’t his own creation in order to help facilitate his release. In it he purportedly apologized for killing North Koreans during the war.

    “I’m delighted to be home,” Merrill Newman said upon his arrival in San Francisco. “It’s been a great homecoming. I’m tired, but ready to be with my family.”

    Newman’s release and subsequent arrival back on U.S. soil was the subject of a wealth of tweets

    Merrill Newman thanked several groups instrumental in his release from North Korea, including the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang, North Korea and the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China.

    While it’s absolutely appalling that North Korea would detain an 85-year-old man with health issues, it is certainly good news that Merrill Newman is safely home on U.S. soil. The U.S. veteran will likely be the subject of many interviews in the coming days, following what will probably be some pretty serious debriefing by the U.S. Government.

    Image via YouTube

  • North Korea Releases Elderly American Prisoner

    After being detained in North Korea in the fall, Merrill Newman has been granted a Christmas miracle. The 85-year-old man was deported earlier today. Prior to his release, there was fear he would be held in North Korea for the rest of his life.

    The DPRK detained the elderly tourist for a period of several weeks beginning on October 26th when it was learned that he was in fact a Korean war veteran. His status caused him to be viewed as a war criminal. It was after Newman apologized for his wrongdoing during the war that officials say they decided they would send the man out of their country.

    Some speculate that the act was motivated by a visit to North Korea by American Vice-President Joe Biden. Letting the elderly tourist go could be taken by some as an expression of good faith or wanting to be shown in a good light. The Vice-President, despite offering praise for the move to release Newman, stated that he himself had no direct impact on the decision to let the man go.

    Indeed, there is still work to be done regarding detainees from abroad still held within North Korea’s borders. Even as Merrill Newman prepares to spend Christmas with his family, others are petitioning the DPRK to free Kenneth Bae. Bae was arrested and imprisoned for working to spread Christianity in North Korea. The religion is forbidden in the country due to it being seen as Western propaganda. The crime of Christianity brings with it the possibility of spending the rest of one’s life in one of North Korea’s infamous prison camps. Prior to his arrest, Kenneth Bae was working as a tour guide with several other secret missionaries. Their jobs were a front that granted them access to the country and the ability to run an undercover religious ministry. Kenneth Bae may be an American citizen like Merrill Newman, but given his beliefs and the risks he willingly took, its very unlikely he’ll wish to apologize. And even if he does, his circumstances currently seem to be a bit graver.

    Right now, Newman is appreciating that he is very lucky to be leaving North Korea and his experiences behind him. When stopped for a quote after his deportation, Newman responded, “I’m very glad to be on my way home. I feel good, I feel good. I want to go home to see my wife.”

    Image: CNN’s Youtube

  • Merrill Newman ‘Apologizes’ to North Korea

    Merrill Newman ‘Apologizes’ to North Korea

    As the United States urges Pyongyang’s release of US veteran, Merrill Newman, who has been detained for more than a month in North Korea, the country’s official KCNA news agency reports that the elderly Palo Alto resident has issued an apology to the secretive country.

    Newman 86, read an apology for crimes he allegedly committed during the Korean war and for “hostile acts” against North Korea during a recent visit to the country.

    Newman’s alleged apology, dated 9 November, could not be independently verified. This is not the first time that North Korea has been accused of coercing statements from detainees.

    There has been no word from Newman directly and curiously, the apology was riddled with stilted English and grammatical errors, such as “I want not punish me”.

    “I have been guilty of a long list of indelible crimes against DPRK government and Korean people,” Newman purportedly wrote in a four-page statement, adding: “Please forgive me.”

    According to The Guardian, the statement said the war veteran allegedly attempted to meet with any surviving soldiers he had trained during the Korean War to fight North Korea, and that he admitted to killing civilians and brought with him an e-book criticizing North Korea.

    Newman was taken off a plane on October 26 by North Korean authorities while preparing to leave the country after a 10-day tour.
    Newman’s son, Jeffrey Newman, said his father had wanted to return to the country where he spent three years during the Korean war.

    International affairs experts believe North Korea may have issued Newman’s apology in order to begin talks with the United States for his release.

    “North Korea wants negotiations with the United States on his release,” said Yang Moo-Jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.

    “The release of Newman, probably together with another American detained earlier, may come before the end of this year if Washington sends a special envoy,” he said.

    Image via Twitter