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| '''Merrill Newman''' (born c. 1928) is a retired businessman and former ] officer most famous for his 2013 arrest in the ].<ref>{{cite web |url =http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/11/21/everything-we-know-about-merrill-newman-the-85-year-old-american-imprisoned-in-north-korea/ |title = Everything we know about Merrill Newman, the 85-year-old American imprisoned in North Korea|website = Washington Post|date= 21 November 2013 |accessdate= 29 November 2013 }}</ref> | '''Merrill Newman''' (born c. 1928) is a retired businessman and former ] officer most famous for his 2013 arrest in the ].<ref>{{cite web |url =http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/11/21/everything-we-know-about-merrill-newman-the-85-year-old-american-imprisoned-in-north-korea/ |title = Everything we know about Merrill Newman, the 85-year-old American imprisoned in North Korea|website = Washington Post|date= 21 November 2013 |accessdate= 29 November 2013 }}</ref> | ||
| ==Background== | ==Background== | ||
| According to Newman's family, he served as an ] officer in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and later worked in technology and financial consulting. As of 2013, Newman was living with his wife in Channing House, a ] retirement community.<ref>{{cite web|author=Bob Woodruff |url=http://abcnews.go.com/International/family-detained-korean-war-vet-merrill-newman-worried/story?id=21000290 |title = Family of Detained American Merrill Newman Worried About His Health in North Korea|website = ABC|date=25 November 2013|accessdate= 29 November 2013 }}</ref> Family members claimed that, at the time of his arrest, Newman suffered from a heart condition for which he was receiving medication. |
According to Newman's family, he served as an ] officer in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and later worked in technology and financial consulting. As of 2013, Newman was living with his wife in Channing House, a ] retirement community.<ref>{{cite web|author=Bob Woodruff |url=http://abcnews.go.com/International/family-detained-korean-war-vet-merrill-newman-worried/story?id=21000290 |title = Family of Detained American Merrill Newman Worried About His Health in North Korea|website = ABC|date=25 November 2013|accessdate= 29 November 2013 }}</ref> Family members claimed that, at the time of his arrest, Newman suffered from a heart condition for which he was receiving medication. | ||
| ==2013 arrest== | ==2013 arrest== | ||
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| ===Timeline=== | ===Timeline=== | ||
| In October 2013 Newman left for the DPRK as part of a nine-day trip organized by Juche Travel Services, a ] 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. |
In October 2013 Newman left for the DPRK as part of a nine-day trip organized by Juche Travel Services, a ] 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/21/world/asia/north-korea-detained-american/index.html?hpt=hp_t3&sf19783692=1 |title = Is American man said detained in North Korea a bargaining chip?|website = CNN|date=22 November 2013|accessdate= 29 November 2013 }}</ref> | ||
| On October 26, after boarding an ] airliner in ] on which he was scheduled to depart the country, Newman was removed by a single, uniformed official. Newman's traveling companion, Bob Hamrdla, reported the arrest to U.S. officials via telephone upon the aircraft's arrival in ] later that day. This account of the arrest was relayed to media by Newman's son, Jeffrey, from information provided by Hamrdla, a former ] professor who specialized in the history of the ]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://alumni.stanford.edu/get/page/travel-study/faculty/?id=319 |title = Faculty Leaders: Bob Hamrdla|website = Stanford Alumni Association|accessdate= 29 November 2013 }}</ref> |
On October 26, after boarding an ] airliner in ] on which he was scheduled to depart the country, Newman was removed by a single, uniformed official. Newman's traveling companion, Bob Hamrdla, reported the arrest to U.S. officials via telephone upon the aircraft's arrival in ] later that day. This account of the arrest was relayed to media by Newman's son, Jeffrey, from information provided by Hamrdla, a former ] professor who specialized in the history of the ].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://alumni.stanford.edu/get/page/travel-study/faculty/?id=319 |title = Faculty Leaders: Bob Hamrdla|website = Stanford Alumni Association|accessdate= 29 November 2013 }}</ref> According to the younger Newman, Hamrdla reported that Merrill Newman had previously engaged in a "difficult" discussion with government tour guides about the Korean War. | ||
| On November 20 the ] first reported on Newman's detention.<ref>{{cite |
On November 20 the ] first reported on Newman's detention.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_24580180/wife-merill-newman-detained-korean-war-veteran-pleads |title = The wife of Merrill Newman, detained Korean war veteran, pleads for his release|newspaper= San Jose Mercury News|date= 22 November 2013 |accessdate= 30 November 2013 }}</ref> In response to media inquiries the ] confirmed that a U.S. citizen had recently been arrested in the DPRK, but refused to specifically discuss the case beyond generally noting they were working with ], the ] of the United States, to secure his release.<ref>{{cite web |url =http://world.time.com/2013/11/22/85-year-old-u-s-veteran-detained-in-north-korea-may-not-be-home-for-thanksgiving/ |title = 85-Year-Old U.S. Veteran Detained in North Korea May Not Be Home for Thanksgiving|website = TIME|date= 22 November 2013 |accessdate= 30 November 2013 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url =http://www.nknews.org/2013/11/davies-us-making-every-effort-to-release-newman/ |title = Davies: U.S. making "every effort" to release Newman|website = NKNews|date= 23 November 2013 |accessdate= 30 November 2013 }}</ref> On November 21, former ] governor ] confirmed to ] that he was "in touch with his North Korean contacts" regarding Newman.<ref>http://www.nbcnews.com/id/53625517/ns/world_news-asiapacific/#.UpnVncakrX0</ref> By November 22 DPRK authorities confirmed to Swedish consular staff that they were holding Newman.<ref>{{cite web |author=Chelsea Carter|url =http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/22/world/asia/north-korea-detained-american/ |title = North Korea Detained American|website = CNN|date= 23 November 2013 |accessdate= 30 November 2013 }}</ref> | ||
| On November 29 the ] released a video showing Newman signing a letter of apology and confession for ] committed during the ]. 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 the DPRK and in this course he was involved in killings of service personnel of the ] and innocent civilians" and that, during his visit, Newman had been found with an "e-book" 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 Comrades-in-Arms Association. |
On November 29 the ] released a video showing Newman signing a letter of apology and confession for ] committed during the ]. 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 the DPRK and in this course he was involved in killings of service personnel of the ] and innocent civilians" and that, during his visit, Newman had been found with an "e-book" 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 Comrades-in-Arms Association.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/30/merrill-newman-north-korea-american-confessed |title = Merrill Newman: North Korea says detained American has confessed|newspaper= Guardian|date= 30 November 2013 |accessdate= 30 November 2013 }}</ref> (] units were clandestine, ] groups that operated during the Korean War and whose existence was not publicly acknowledged until 1990.) | ||
| ===Theories and Analysis=== | ===Theories and Analysis=== | ||
| Many experts have observed the arrest of Newman was unusual, noting that detentions of western tourists on officially authorized trips are rare and that most arrests of westerners have been quickly announced by the DPRK government. While North Korean media reported Merrill's arrest was due to past war crimes the DPRK government alleges Newman committed, and subversive activities engaged in by Newman during his trip, several media outlets and Korea watchers have proposed alternate theories. |
Many experts have observed the arrest of Newman was unusual, noting that detentions of western tourists on officially authorized trips are rare and that most arrests of westerners have been quickly announced by the DPRK government. While North Korean media reported Merrill's arrest was due to past war crimes the DPRK government alleges Newman committed, and subversive activities engaged in by Newman during his trip, several media outlets and Korea watchers have proposed alternate theories. | ||
| * Some have observed that Newman may have been confused with another Merrill Newman, also a Korean War veteran, who received the ] for a combat action he led in 1952 against Chinese forces.<ref>{{cite web |author=Colleen Curry|url =http://abcnews.go.com/US/north-korea-detain-wrong-us-war-veteran/story?id=20981395|title=Did North Korea Detain the Wrong US Korean War Vet?|website = ABC News|date= 22 November 2013 |accessdate= 30 November 2013 }}</ref> | * Some have observed that Newman may have been confused with another Merrill Newman, also a Korean War veteran, who received the ] for a combat action he led in 1952 against Chinese forces.<ref>{{cite web |author=Colleen Curry|url =http://abcnews.go.com/US/north-korea-detain-wrong-us-war-veteran/story?id=20981395|title=Did North Korea Detain the Wrong US Korean War Vet?|website = ABC News|date= 22 November 2013 |accessdate= 30 November 2013 }}</ref> | ||
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| {{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
| {{Persondata | |||
| | NAME = Newman, Merrill | |||
| | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | |||
| | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | |||
| | DATE OF BIRTH = | |||
| | PLACE OF BIRTH = | |||
| | DATE OF DEATH = | |||
| | PLACE OF DEATH = | |||
| }} | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Newman, Merrill}} | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
Revision as of 15:07, 30 November 2013
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Merrill Newman (born c. 1928) is a retired businessman and former United States Army officer most famous for his 2013 arrest in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Background
According to Newman's family, he served as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and later worked in technology and financial consulting. As of 2013, Newman was living with his wife in Channing House, a Palo Alto retirement community. Family members claimed that, at the time of his arrest, Newman suffered from a heart condition for which he was receiving medication.
2013 arrest
Timeline
In October 2013 Newman left for the DPRK as part of a nine-day trip organized by Juche Travel Services, a travel agency 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.
On October 26, after boarding an Air Koryo airliner in Pyongyang on which he was scheduled to depart the country, Newman was removed by a single, uniformed official. Newman's traveling companion, Bob Hamrdla, reported the arrest to U.S. officials via telephone upon the aircraft's arrival in Beijing later that day. This account of the arrest was relayed to media by Newman's son, Jeffrey, from information provided by Hamrdla, a former Stanford University professor who specialized in the history of the German Democratic Republic. According to the younger Newman, Hamrdla reported that Merrill Newman had previously engaged in a "difficult" discussion with government tour guides about the Korean War.
On November 20 the San Jose Mercury News first reported on Newman's detention. In response to media inquiries the United States Department of State confirmed that a U.S. citizen had recently been arrested in the DPRK, but refused to specifically discuss the case beyond generally noting they were working with Sweden, the protecting power 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. On November 21, former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson confirmed to Reuters that he was "in touch with his North Korean contacts" regarding Newman. By November 22 DPRK authorities confirmed to Swedish consular staff that they were holding Newman.
On November 29 the Korean Central News Agency released a video showing Newman signing a letter of apology and confession for war crimes 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 the DPRK and in this course he was involved in killings of service personnel of the Korean People's Army and innocent civilians" and that, during his visit, Newman had been found with an "e-book" 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 Comrades-in-Arms Association. (United Nations Partisan Infantry Korea units were clandestine, special forces groups that operated during the Korean War and whose existence was not publicly acknowledged until 1990.)
Theories and Analysis
Many experts have observed the arrest of Newman was unusual, noting that detentions of western tourists on officially authorized trips are rare and that most arrests of westerners have been quickly announced by the DPRK government. While North Korean media reported Merrill's arrest was due to past war crimes the DPRK government alleges Newman committed, and subversive activities engaged in by Newman during his trip, several media outlets and Korea watchers have proposed alternate theories.
- Some have observed that Newman may have been confused with another Merrill Newman, also a Korean War veteran, who received the Silver Star for a combat action he led in 1952 against Chinese forces.
- Others have suggested Newman was randomly arrested for use as a bargaining chip in ongoing international negotiations between North Korea and western governments.
- Still others have opined the arrest of Newman indicates a loosening grip on government by Kim Jong-un, and was done to shore-up domestic support, or alternatively, that he had engaged in behavior constituting a serious breach of protocol.
- However, in a post to 38 North, a blog about DPRK affairs maintained by Johns Hopkins University, Rüdiger Frank commented that "it is very unlikely the North Korean authorities would decide to keep an American tourist on their territory for symbolic reasons, in order to make a political statement of some kind. It is also hard to see how a Western tourist’s detention could be interpreted as evidence that Kim Jong Un is losing his grip on the North Korean government, as some pundits have implied."
References
- "Everything we know about Merrill Newman, the 85-year-old American imprisoned in North Korea". Washington Post. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
- Bob Woodruff (25 November 2013). "Family of Detained American Merrill Newman Worried About His Health in North Korea". ABC. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
- "Is American man said detained in North Korea a bargaining chip?". CNN. 22 November 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
- "Faculty Leaders: Bob Hamrdla". Stanford Alumni Association. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
- "The wife of Merrill Newman, detained Korean war veteran, pleads for his release". San Jose Mercury News. 22 November 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
- "85-Year-Old U.S. Veteran Detained in North Korea May Not Be Home for Thanksgiving". TIME. 22 November 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
- "Davies: U.S. making "every effort" to release Newman". NKNews. 23 November 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
- http://www.nbcnews.com/id/53625517/ns/world_news-asiapacific/#.UpnVncakrX0
- Chelsea Carter (23 November 2013). "North Korea Detained American". CNN. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
- "Merrill Newman: North Korea says detained American has confessed". Guardian. 30 November 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
- Colleen Curry (22 November 2013). "Did North Korea Detain the Wrong US Korean War Vet?". ABC News. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
- Max Fisher (22 November 2013). "Why did North Korea arrest an 85-year-old American?". Washington Post. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
- "Merrill Newman, 85-Year-Old American Veteran, Detained In North Korea, Son Says". Huffington Post. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
- Rüdiger Frank (25 November 2013). "The Mysterious Case of Merrill Newman". 38 North. Retrieved 30 November 2013.