North Korea releases US veteran

On December 7, the North Korean government suddenly announced the release of 85-year-old American veteran Merrill Newman, who was arrested in late October.

North Korea's KCNA news agency said earlier that he was expelled because he admitted his wrongdoing and apologized.

Mr. Merrill Newman surrounded by the press at Beijing airport on December 7. Photo: Reuters

"I'm very happy to be back home," Newman told Japanese reporters at Beijing airport. "And I appreciate the tolerance of the DPRK government for me to continue on my path. I want to go home to see my wife."

Newman looked healthy in pictures taken at the airport. He later left the airport guesthouse with two men, believed to be US diplomats.

The US Embassy in Beijing declined to comment on the incident.

Newman, a former US special forces soldier in the 1950-53 Korean War and working with guerrillas fighting against the socialist North, has been held by the Pyongyang government since late October.

KCNA said Newman was expelled on humanitarian grounds, "taking into account his admission of wrongdoing on the basis of his erroneous understanding, apology, sincere repentance and age, as well as his health condition."

The United States quickly welcomed North Korea's decision to release Newman and called on Pyongyang to spare another US citizen detained since last October and return him to his family.

According to motthegioi.vn