North Korea reportedly releases U.S. war veteran and Palo Alto resident

This photograph released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agencyshows U.S. citizen Merrill Newman inking his thumbprint onto a written apology for his alleged crimes both as a tourist and during his participation in the Korean War, while under detention in Pyongyang.

By Associated Press

Dec. 6, 2013 6:50 PM PT

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea says it has deported an elderly U.S. tourist and war veteran who was detained for more than a month over hostile acts Pyongyang says he committed during the Korean War.

North Korean state media says officials released 85-year-old Merrill Newman, a retired tech executive from Palo Alto, because he apologized for his alleged crimes during the Korean War and because of his age and medical condition.

It’s not clear if his confession was coerced. A former group of South Korean guerrillas say Newman advised them as they fought behind enemy lines during the war.

Newman was removed from a plane Oct. 26 by North Korean authorities as he was about to leave the country after a 10-day tour.

North Korea had detained at least six other Americans since 2009.

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