485:
him about it. In a subsequent written statement released by Newman's family, Newman declared his confession had been coerced, writing that "the words were not mine and were not delivered voluntarily." In the same statement, however, Newman confirmed the veracity of the earlier KCNA report that he had requested his North Korean tour guides put him in contact with former anti-communist insurgents, but claimed it was for reasons of "curiosity" and his intention in making contact with guerrilla fighters had been "misinterpreted ... as something more sinister."
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committed during the Korean War. According to the accompanying report, the video had been recorded the preceding
November 9. It went on to state that Newman had "masterminded espionage and subversive activities against North Korea and in this course he was involved in killings of service personnel of
457:
report published later that day confirmed Newman's membership in the Kuwol regiment of the United
Nations Partisan Infantry Korea. The Reuters article also revealed that Newman had twice visited South Korea, on both occasions wearing a commemorative ring that identified him as a former partisan. (No
433:
units had left Newman a permanently marked man in North Korea: "They detained him because he served in the Kuwol regiment. He is just a very bad guy for them." Dan
Sneider, a North Korea specialist at Stanford University, remarked that "it seems that Mr. Newman inadvertently walked into a historical
484:
After returning to the United States, Newman declined interview requests from media but casually remarked he had been well taken care of and held in comfortable conditions during his detention. Newman did not immediately retract his written confession, however, and "smirked" at a reporter who asked
461:
Details of Newman's military exploits had been included in a book published in South Korea and edited by a member of Newman's unit, Kim Heyon. Another partisan veteran stated that North Korean intelligence had obtained the complete roster of the Kuwol regiment, on which Newman's name was included,
417:
containing subversive material. The KCNA story also reported that Newman said he had served during the Korean War as a military adviser to the "Kuwol unit of the U.N. Korea 6th
Partisan Regiment" and had asked his government tour guides to help him contact surviving members of the Kuwol Partisan
381:
of the United States, to secure his release. Officials noted that the individual in question (generally accepted to be Newman) had not filed a privacy act waiver, which legally prevented them from providing specifics regarding the case to the press.
33:
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As of 2013, Newman was living with his wife in
Channing House, a Palo Alto retirement community. Family members said that, at the time of his arrest, Newman suffered from a heart condition for which he needed medication.
693:
343:
on which he was scheduled to depart the country, Newman was removed by a single, uniformed official. Newman's traveling companion reported the arrest to U.S. officials via telephone upon the aircraft's arrival in
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that he was "in touch with his North Korean contacts" regarding Newman. At some point by or before
November 22, DPRK authorities acknowledged to Swedish consular staff that they were holding Newman.
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that specializes in trips to North Korea. According to family members, Newman had generally been enjoying his trip and had communicated with them via telephone and postcards.
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He later worked in technology and financial consulting. After serving in the army, Newman was a high school teacher and, later, an executive for technology companies in
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confirmed that a U.S. citizen had recently been arrested in North Korea, but refused to specifically discuss the case beyond generally noting they were working with
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473:; a medical officer provided him with medications, and cleared him to fly. Newman boarded the flight the same day, declining an offer from Vice President
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On
December 7, Newman was released. After flying from Pyongyang to Beijing, Newman met with U.S. Embassy officials, who bought him a ticket to
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to North Korea, Karl-Olof
Andersson, had visited Newman for the first time and found him to be in good health. At the same time, the
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discusses travel safety in North Korea for
American citizens during the department's daily press briefing on November 21, 2013.
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issued a statement requesting Newman's release, referring to Newman by name and also calling for the repatriation of
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Kim Heyon, a former member of Newman's Korean War military unit, said that the irregular warfare engaged in by the
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groups that operated during the Korean War and whose activities were not publicly acknowledged until 1990.)
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970:"New details emerge in baffling case of Palo Alto's Merrill Newman, North Korean 'prisoner of war'"
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127:
281:, where he earned a bachelor's degree in zoology in 1950. Newman earned a master's degree from
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mention was made as to whether Newman had worn the same ring during his trip to North Korea.)
562:"Everything we know about Merrill Newman, the 85-year-old American imprisoned in North Korea"
466:. Together, these facts seemed to indicate that Newman's background was beyond concealment.
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638:
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694:"U.S. veteran held by North Korea helped anti-communist guerrilla force in 1950-1953 war"
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404:(KCNA) released a video showing Newman signing a letter of apology and confession for
1211:
1040:
478:
477:, who was touring East Asia at the same time, to take a later flight out of Seoul on
329:
1161:"Family of Detained American Merrill Newman Worried About His Health in North Korea"
1072:"Merrill Newman said he was comfortable during detention in North Korean hotel room"
848:"85-Year-Old U.S. Veteran Detained in North Korea May Not Be Home for Thanksgiving"
274:
79:
651:
Exclusive: Comrade of
American held in N.Korea recalls friendship, stealth mission
413:
and innocent civilians" and that, during his visit, Newman had been found with an
821:"The wife of Merrill Newman, detained Korean war veteran, pleads for his release"
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In 2014, journalist Mike Chinoy published an e-book about Newman's detention,
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1100:"Korean War veteran Merrill Newman gives details of detention by Pyongyang"
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first reported on Newman's detention. In response to media inquiries, the
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877:
454:
394:
345:
414:
374:
441:, North Korea's largest operating hotel. By December 1, the Swedish
1014:"Swedish ambassador visits 85-year-old US vet held in North Korea"
536:"Merrill Newman: North Korea says detained American has confessed"
350:
305:
he advised a 8240th Army Unit at some time between 1950 and 1953.
770:"Is American man said detained in North Korea a bargaining chip?"
588:"State news: American Merrill Newman 'deported' from North Korea"
328:
as part of a nine-day trip organized by Juche Travel Services, a
900:
Bill Richardson in touch with North Korea over detained American
943:"Unforgotten fighter of Korean war: U.S. pensioner a POW at 85"
257:(May 20, 1928 – January 17, 2022) was a businessman and former
750:"North Korea Says It Has Released Veteran It Held After Visit"
592:
711:
Unforgotten fighter of Korean war: U.S. pensioner a POW at 85
1128:"Reflections on detention: an interview with Merrill Newman"
996:"Reflections on detention: An interview with Merrill Newman"
632:
Friends worried about Palo Alto man detained in North Korea
873:"Davies: U.S. making "every effort" to release Newman"
937:
935:
933:
1045:"Freed by North Korea, War Veteran Returns to U.S."
724:"US vet detained in NKorea oversaw guerrilla group"
664:"US vet detained in NKorea oversaw guerrilla group"
619:"Merrill Newman:They also serve ... (May 18, 2005)"
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748:Bearak, Barry; Sang-Hun, Choe (December 7, 2013).
662:Hyung-Jin Kim and Foster Klug (December 3, 2013).
1248:United States Army personnel of the Korean War
293:According to Newman's family, he served as an
1243:Military personnel from Palo Alto, California
8:
503:Newman died on January 17, 2022, at age 93.
16:American businessman and soldier (1928–2022)
530:
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434:minefield that he wasn't fully aware of."
31:
20:
1263:American people imprisoned in North Korea
1253:University of California, Berkeley alumni
1238:Businesspeople from Palo Alto, California
513:List of Americans detained by North Korea
320:In October 2013, Newman left his home in
277:for one year before transferring to the
641:, ktvu.com; accessed February 12, 2014.
524:
447:United States National Security Council
1268:United Nations Partisan Infantry Korea
420:United Nations Partisan Infantry Korea
261:officer. In 2013, he was arrested in
7:
1126:Macdonald, Hamish (March 22, 2017).
994:Macdonald, Hamish (March 22, 2017).
911:Chelsea Carter (November 23, 2013).
846:Rauhala, Emily (November 22, 2013).
297:officer in the U.S. Army during the
1140:from the original on March 23, 2019
1070:Mccord, Shanna (December 9, 2013).
471:San Francisco International Airport
355:U.S. State Department spokesperson
1159:Bob Woodruff (November 25, 2013).
279:University of California, Berkeley
14:
1098:Gearan, Anne (December 9, 2013).
968:Patrick May (November 30, 2013).
722:Bob Woodruff (December 3, 2013).
371:United States Department of State
335:On October 26, after boarding an
608:, nytimes.com; December 7, 2013.
189:
913:"North Korea Detained American"
418:Comrades-in-Arms Association. (
796:"Faculty Leaders: Bob Hamrdla"
1:
437:Newman was held in a room in
244:1 month and 11 days
1186:"Merrill Newman 1928 - 2022"
265:and released 42 days later.
1228:United States Army officers
800:Stanford Alumni Association
1284:
1258:Stanford University alumni
637:December 11, 2013, at the
402:Korean Central News Agency
229:December 7, 2013
214:October 26, 2013
1018:Christian Science Monitor
389:governor turned diplomat
248:
175:
171:
118:
114:
30:
422:units were clandestine,
269:Early life and education
205:Korean War participation
93:University of California
1190:San Francisco Chronicle
385:On November 21, former
360:
55:Sacramento, California
1077:San Jose Mercury News
974:San Jose Mercury News
825:San Jose Mercury News
366:San Jose Mercury News
354:
322:Palo Alto, California
301:. As a member of the
255:Merrill Edward Newman
1043:(December 7, 2013).
674:on December 12, 2013
464:Korean War armistice
411:Korean People's Army
400:On November 29, the
363:On November 20, the
1233:2013 in North Korea
1192:. February 22, 2022
881:. November 23, 2013
827:. November 22, 2013
776:. November 22, 2013
700:. December 4, 2013.
596:. December 7, 2013.
568:. November 21, 2013
542:. November 30, 2013
283:Stanford University
98:Stanford University
1049:The New York Times
1020:. December 1, 2013
949:. December 1, 2013
755:The New York Times
361:
273:Newman studied at
259:United States Army
134:Service years
128:United States Army
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670:. Archived from
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348:later that day.
303:8240th Army Unit
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156:8240th Army Unit
146:First lieutenant
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490:The Last P.O.W.
439:Yanggakdo Hotel
391:Bill Richardson
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119:Military career
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25:Merrill Newman
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495:Personal life
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462:prior to the
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1194:. Retrieved
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1170:November 29,
1168:. Retrieved
1164:
1154:
1142:. Retrieved
1131:
1121:
1111:December 13,
1109:. Retrieved
1103:
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1083:December 13,
1081:. Retrieved
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1065:
1053:. Retrieved
1047:
1034:
1022:. Retrieved
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1008:
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977:. Retrieved
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951:. Retrieved
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922:November 30,
920:. Retrieved
916:
906:
895:
885:November 30,
883:. Retrieved
876:
867:
857:November 30,
855:. Retrieved
851:
841:
831:November 30,
829:. Retrieved
824:
815:
805:November 29,
803:. Retrieved
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780:November 29,
778:. Retrieved
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743:
731:. Retrieved
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676:. Retrieved
672:the original
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572:November 29,
570:. Retrieved
565:
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546:November 30,
544:. Retrieved
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468:
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436:
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399:
384:
364:
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339:airliner in
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275:Yuba College
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254:
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80:Yuba College
69:(2022-01-17)
50:May 20, 1928
18:
1223:2022 deaths
1218:1928 births
1055:December 7,
1024:December 3,
979:December 3,
953:December 3,
733:December 7,
678:December 6,
451:Kenneth Bae
326:North Korea
316:2013 arrest
263:North Korea
196:North Korea
110:Businessman
1212:Categories
519:References
443:ambassador
406:war crimes
387:New Mexico
299:Korean War
233:2013-12-07
218:2013-10-26
180:Detainment
166:Korean War
107:Occupation
46:1928-05-20
1196:April 29,
1144:March 23,
475:Joe Biden
357:Jen Psaki
341:Pyongyang
337:Air Koryo
137:1950–1953
76:Education
1138:Archived
635:Archived
540:Guardian
507:See also
431:partisan
295:infantry
226:Released
211:Detained
162:Conflict
1133:NK News
1000:NK News
947:Reuters
878:NK News
455:Reuters
395:Reuters
346:Beijing
231: (
216: (
185:Country
415:e-book
377:, the
375:Sweden
324:, for
289:Career
201:Reason
194:
124:Branch
57:, U.S.
1198:2022
1172:2013
1146:2019
1113:2013
1085:2013
1057:2013
1026:2013
981:2013
955:2013
924:2013
887:2013
859:2013
852:TIME
833:2013
807:2013
782:2013
735:2013
680:2013
574:2013
548:2013
453:. A
409:the
152:Unit
142:Rank
64:Died
40:Born
1165:ABC
917:CNN
774:CNN
593:CNN
1214::
1188:.
1163:.
1136:.
1130:.
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1074:.
1016:.
998:.
972:.
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932:^
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527:^
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44:(
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