U.S. Citizens held in N.K.

(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?"

Wife, son beg for his release 

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?