North Korea publishes apology from American detainee

The U.S. government yesterday urged North Korean authorities to release 85-year-old retired financial consultant and Korean War veteran, Merrill Newman.

National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said that given Newman's advanced age and health conditions, the man should be released so he may return home and reunite with his family. The request for the release of the elderly man was sent the same day that North Korean media agency KCNA released stories of Newman alleged apologising for various crimes.

Last October, Newman went on a 10-day private tour of North Korea. Based on his communication with family the trip was going well and there was no kind of problem. However on his last day Korean officials met with Newman and his tour guide to discuss Newman's service record. Minutes before boarding his flight from Pyongyang the man was detained. No explanations were given at the time of arrest.

However yesterday, North Korean authorities published an apology from Newman dated November 9. In the note, claimed to have been written by the elderly man more than 21 days ago, the detained speaks about his links with the Kuwol Unit, which fought against Pyongyang in the Korean War. "After I killed so many civilians and North Korean soldiers and destroyed strategic objects in North Korea during the Korean War, I committed indelible offensive acts and I'm guilty of big crimes against the North Korean government and its people," Newman is heard saying in a video aired by KCNA. The state controlled agency also published a story claiming Newman went to North Korea in October and perpetrated acts infringing upon the dignity and sovereignty of the North Korean nation and slandering its socialist system. This news agency held the man was trying to recruit spies and terrorists to carry out espionage and subversive activities against the nation. The KCNA story concluded that Newman admitted all his crimes. Observers have however labelled the stories as highly scripted political theatre.

On the same day, Sweden's ambassador to North Korea visited Newman to deliver medicines for his heart condition. The ambassador reported back that the detained man is in good health and being treated well.

American officials explained their deep concerned about other people being held by the East Asian authorities. In her request for Newman's release, Hayden also demanded the release of Kenneth Bae.

Bae was detained by North Korea in November 2012 and in May this year he was sentenced to 15 years hard labour after being found guilty of hostile acts and attempts to topple the North Korean government.