By Associated Press - Friday, November 22, 2013

PALO ALTO, Calif. — The wife of an 85-year-old Korean War veteran detained in North Korea has implored authorities there to let her husband return to his anxious, concerned family.

Lee Newman said in a statement released Friday from the Channing House retirement community that the family feels a misunderstanding led to his detention.

Her husband, Merrill Newman, was set to end a 10 day tour of North Korea on Oct. 26.

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She says that just before he was slated to fly out, he was escorted from his flight by a North Korean official, and the family doesn’t know why he is being held.

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