North Korea detains traveler from Palo Alto, 85
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Palo Alto resident Merrill Newman, 85, is an adventurous traveler who has flown and sailed around the world, according to friends.
But word that the retiree's latest and perhaps boldest trip met trouble - with Newman in custody Wednesday in North Korea, having been held there for more than three weeks - has his friends and his wife anxiously awaiting word on his plight.
"I think everyone here is concerned about it," said Bill Blankenburg, 81, a fellow resident at Channing House, a retirement community in Palo Alto. "We have no information beyond the fact that he was detained."
Another resident, 85-year-old Brian Trankle, said Newman, a Korean War veteran, is in need of his medication, and that his wife, Lee Newman, had been trying to get the drugs to him.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/nation/article/North-Korea-detains-traveler-from-Palo-Alto-85-4996287.php
Other sources:
San Jose Mercury News, Exclusive: Palo Alto man, 85, removed from plane, detained in North Korea
Palo Alto Weekly, Palo Alto resident, 85, being held in North Korea
New York Times, Another American Tourist Is Arrested in North Korea
ABC, American Korean War Vet Detained in North Korea
US Dept of State travel warning begins:
red dog 1
(27,797 posts)What possible reason do they have for keeping him for 3 weeks?
Jesus Malverde
(10,274 posts)sakabatou
(42,152 posts)Hopefully, she can get out of there.
Response to alp227 (Original post)
iandhr This message was self-deleted by its author.
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)The guy is not a threat to anyone. Unfortunately there is a huge risk going there, the government is erratic. I've wanted to take a day trip over to Kaesong, but they canceled them a few years ago.
bloomington-lib
(946 posts)Sounds like a type of suicide.
uncle ray
(3,156 posts)no chance they may have been confiscated or he's been detained longer than his planned stay.
bloomington-lib
(946 posts)brooklynite
(94,517 posts)...it's a "unique" travel experience and generally people on organized tours don't get into trouble.
penultimate
(1,110 posts)brooklynite
(94,517 posts)...unless the CIA finds it useful to monitor the cost of the Pyongyang Metro and crowd sizes at the KJI Monument/KJI Mausoleum/KJI Stadium...O'm not sure it's worth their time.
penultimate
(1,110 posts)I kinda get the appeal of wanting to do it, because it seems exciting and like a very unique experience, but I don't know if that's worth the risk. Any idea how much your friends end up paying for such a trip? Nothing I've seen discusses the logistics of such trips, like costs and how it's setup.
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)I'd certainly not expect to have prescribed medications confiscated... regardless of country or regime.
But then again, I also avoid making implications blaming victims, too.
AverageJoe90
(10,745 posts)Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)dkhbrit
(110 posts)But what a tool for going there in the first place.
Nine
(1,741 posts)But I do think it was a very foolhardy thing to do. As a seasoned traveler he must have known the risks. I guess some people jump out of airplanes and some people travel to North Korea.
christx30
(6,241 posts)he's going to cover himself with papercuts and take lemon juice bath.
If he gets home.
Scairp
(2,749 posts)This makes about as much sense as one of the hostages from the Iran embassy takeover going over there now to, what, reminisce? I really don't understand this AT ALL. I hope he gets out as well, but seriously, they are so very insane there they might put him on trial for crimes committed during that war. They still keep the ship U.S.S. Pueblo on display as a prize, why not a person?
Eugene
(61,874 posts)Source: Reuters
Thu Nov 21, 2013 1:51pm EST
(Reuters) - Former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is in touch with his North Korean contacts over the detention of an 85-year-old American veteran of the Korean War, a spokeswoman said on Thursday.
Asked by email whether Richardson was looking into the detention, spokeswoman Caitlin Kelleher told Reuters: "Governor Richardson is involved in that he is in touch with his North Korean contacts."
Richardson has made numerous trips to North Korea that included efforts to free detained Americans.
(Reporting by Sharon Bernstein in Sacramento; Writing By Cynthia Johnston; Editing by Daniel Trotta)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/21/us-korea-north-detention-idUSBRE9AK16420131121