(CNN) -- The U.S. government pleaded Saturday for
North Korean authorities to release 85-year-old Merrill Newman, with a
spokeswoman saying officials are "deeply concerned" about him and
another American being held in the isolated East Asian nation.
"Given Mr. Newman's
advanced age and health conditions, we urge (North Korea) to release Mr.
Newman so he may return home and reunite with his family," said
National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden.
Washington's plea came on
the day North Korean state media released print stories and video
showing what they called Newman's "apology." University of California,
Berkeley professor Steven Weber characterized it as "highly scripted
political theater."
So how did an elderly
retired financial consultant and Korean War veteran become the central
figure in an international dispute? Why is there such animosity still
tied to a conflict, the Korean War, that ended six decades ago? And why
is this all unfolding now?
Weber, a former
consultant to the U.S. Commission on National Security, has a theory:
"They are trying to get the Western media to pay attention."
With the notable
exception of its longtime ally China, North Korea is in many ways a
pariah state bogged down by what many view as decades of repressive
leadership. At the same time, the communist nation has had difficulties
getting enough energy to power their country and food for their people.
Largely shut itself off
from the rest of the world, its leaders and state media often use
saber-rattling rhetoric to unite citizens against what Weber described
as "nasty outsiders" -- which, not coincidentally, are chiefly South
Korea and the United States, just as during the Korean War.
The discord in recent
years has centered mostly on North Korea's nuclear and missile programs,
with the international community taking punitive measures such as
economic sanctions to hold Pyongyang in check.
North Korea hasn't been
alone. Iran, too, has long been an international target because of its
nuclear program, though that landscape has changed with the recent
diplomatic accord.
That fact may not be
lost on Pyongyang, said Weber, who surmised North Korea may be
particularly eager to get the world's focus and, ideally, concessions in
the process.
Added Weber: "If the Iran thing gets settled peacefully, then guess who's left?"
Read the whole story: http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/30/world/asia/north-korea-american-detained/index.html?hpt=po_c2
Any time a U.S. citizen is held in a foreign country it causes much concern, but not nearly the amount that Korean War veteran Merrill Newman has. Clearly North Korea is trying to send a message to the United States by repeatedly detaining Americans in their country. What do you think about their latest hostage? Do you think that these methods are good ways of getting their message across to other countries? Do you think this kind of retaliation against the U.S. is effective? Do you think the U.S. is doing all it can to help get Newman released and is it being given an appropriate amount of attention?