U S war veteran detained in North Korea

North Korea and its government live in a world of their own construct how else could explain holding an 85 year old Korean War veteran with a heart condition. Merrill Newman had entered North Korea on a valid tourist visa with a traveling companion last month. But, like a plot twist from bad Cold War movie Mr. Newman was pulled off the plane 5 minutes before departure.



Merrill Newman, a retiree from Palo Alto, California, was taken away a day after he and his tour guide spoke with North Korean authorities at a meeting in which his military service in Korea was discussed, his son, Jeff Newman, said in a CNN interview on Wednesday. The US government has not directly confirmed the detention, citing privacy laws. Nonetheless, former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is in touch with his North Korean contacts over the detention of Newman, a spokeswoman said on Thursday.br>