An American veteran who was detained for more than a month by North Korea says he was coerced into reading a videotaped apology under duress.
Korean War veteran Merrill Newman with his wife Lee and son Jeff (right) at San Francisco International Airport. Photo: AFP
Merrill Newman, 85, was taken off a plane in Pyongyang on 26 October while visiting North Korea as a tourist. He arrived back in northern California on Saturday.
Mr Newman was taken off a plane as he prepared to leave the country after a 10-day tourist visit.
In a video released by North Korea on 30 November, Mr Newman was shown reading an ''apology'', in which he confessed to trying to contact surviving soldiers during his trip to North Korea.
The statement added: "Please forgive me."
The BBC reports North Korea has previously been accused of coercing confessions from detainees.
