Family Asks North Korea To Release 85-Year-Old American
The family and friends of an 85-year-old California grandfather have appealed to North Korean officials to release the man, who reportedly has been held by authorities in the communist state since Oct. 26.
Merrill Newman, a veteran of the Korean War who traveled with a friend to North Korea last month, was "removed from a plane three weeks ago" just minutes before he was to depart on the first leg of his trip home, the San Jose Mercury News writes.
Jeffrey Newman, the missing man's son, tells The Associated Press it appears that a North Korean military officer boarded the plane, asked the elder Newman for his passport and then said the American had to leave the aircraft. "My dad got off, walked out with the stewardess, and that's the last he was seen," Jeffrey Newman says.
The scene was witnessed by Merrill Newman's friend, Bob Hamrdla. The two men had traveled to North Korea together. Hamrdla was allowed to depart.
The Mercury News adds that:
"The day before he was to depart, Newman met with North Korean officials, who discussed his Army service in the Korean War more than a half-century earlier ... Jeffrey Newman said Wednesday night.
"Merrill Newman was slightly unnerved, his son said, but went to dinner and thought nothing of it until the next day ... when he was escorted off the plane. ...
"Hamrdla released a statement Wednesday afternoon, calling Newman's detention 'a terrible misunderstanding.'