(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) The United States called for the "immediate release" of Merrill Newman, an 85-year-old Californian detained in North Korea. The Korean War veteran was plucked off a plane last month as he was leaving the reclusive state after a tourist visit. "Given Newman's advanced age and health conditions, we urge the (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) to release Newman so he may return home and reunite with his family," US National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said. In addition to calling for Newman's "immediate release," Hayden also urged Pyongyang to free another American, Kenneth Bae. The 45-year-old tour operator was arrested a year ago and sentenced to 15 years' hard labor on charges of seeking to topple the government. "We continue to urge the DPRK authorities to grant him amnesty and immediate release," Hayden said. "We remain deeply concerned about the welfare of the US citizens held in custody in the DPRK." The US State Department said the Swedish Embassy, acting on Washington's behalf since the United States has no formal ties with Pyongyang, was given "consular access" to Newman on Saturday. Earlier, North Korea for the first time officially admitted holding Newman, saying he has been detained for "hostile acts" against the communist country. Newman was held after entering the North "under the guise of a tourist," the official KCNA news agency said. KCNA said Newman had committed crimes both as a tourist and during his participation in the Korean War six decades ago and published an apology running to nearly 600 words - parts of it written in poor English - in which he allegedly confessed to his crimes. The retired financial executive has been accused of infringing upon the "dignity and sovereignty" of the secretive state and "slandering its socialist system, quite contrary to the purpose of the tour," the report said. The American had also masterminded espionage and subversive activities during the 1950-53 Korean War and was involved in the killing of North Korean soldiers and innocent civilians, it added.
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