NEW : `` It 's been a great homecoming , '' Newman says upon arrival in North Korea . Video shows Merrill Newman smiling as he walks through North Korea 's airport . Bae was arrested in November 2012 and sentenced last May to 15 years of hard labor after North Korea 's government found him guilty of `` hostile acts '' and attempts to topple the government . The 85-year-old was detained in Beijing in October , issued a public apology . State news reports Newman was released for `` humanitarian '' reasons .
NEW : `` It 's been a great homecoming , '' Newman says upon arrival in North Korea . Video shows Merrill Newman smiling as he walks through North Korea 's airport . The 85-year-old was detained in Beijing in October , issued a public apology . State news reports Newman was released for `` humanitarian '' reasons .