Summary A US war veteran freed by North Korea after more than a month in detention arrived home on Saturday.
SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - A clearly relieved American war veteran freed by North Korea after more than a month in detention arrived home in the United States Saturday where he was greeted by his family.
Merrill Newman, 85, made a brief statement after landing at San Francisco airport, saying he was delighted to be back after his release on humanitarian grounds by the communist state, which said the American had cited his "sincere repentance."
"It has been a great homecoming, and I am tired, but can be with my family now," said the Korean War veteran, his wife and son by his side.
"Thank you all for the support we got."
The official Korean Central News Agency said earlier that Newman s age and health condition had been factors that led to his release.
Having been deported to Beijing, Newman boarded a commercial flight and landed in San Francisco around 9:00 am (1700 GMT).
Newman, who has a heart condition, was plucked off a plane in October as he was leaving Pyongyang following a tourist visit.
His release coincided with US Vice President Joe Biden s visit to the DMZ, the demilitarized zone that has split the Korean peninsula since the 1950-1953 Korean War, the world s last Cold War frontier.
"The DPRK (Democratic People s Republic of North Korea) today released someone they should never have had in the first place, Mr. Newman," Biden said earlier after laying a wreath at the war memorial in Seoul.
"It s a positive thing they ve done," added Biden, on the last stop of a three-country Asia trip.
Biden also urged Pyongyang to free another US citizen, Kenneth Bae, a 45-year-old tour operator arrested a year ago and sentenced to 15 years hard labor on charges of seeking to topple the government.
Newman s family said he was detained on October 26 shortly before take-off from the North Korean capital. Biden s office said the vice president had spoken to him by telephone.
"I offered him a ride home on Air Force Two, but as he pointed out, there s a direct flight to San Francisco, so I don t blame him, I d be on that flight too," Biden told reporters.
Bae s family welcomed Newman s release and said in a statement: "We believe that our Kenneth should also come home soon."
Dongguk University professor Kim Yong-Hyun, a North Korea expert in Seoul, said Pyongyang had freed Newman in a bid to facilitate dialogue with Washington. Biden said he had no direct role in securing his release.
"North Korea knows that the detention of a sick, old man will aggravate relations with the United States," Kim told AFP.
Last week, Pyongyang for the first time officially admitted holding Newman, saying he was detained for "hostile acts" after entering the country "under the guise of a tourist."
Authorities in the reclusive country had accused him of committing crimes both as a tourist and during his participation in the Korean War six decades ago.
The North also claimed that Newman masterminded espionage and subversive activities during the war and was involved in the killing of North Korean soldiers and innocent civilians.
