Source : ` ` It 's been a great homecoming , '' Merrill Newman says upon arrival in San Francisco . Video shows Newman smiling as he walks through Oakland 's streets . CNN 's Tom Watkins , Jill Dougherty , Elise Labott and Joseph Netto contributed to this report . The 85-year - old was detained in North Korea in October , issued a public statement . State news reports Newman was detained for ` ` humanitarian '' reasons .
Source : ` ` It 's been a great homecoming , '' Merrill Newman says upon arrival in San Francisco . Video shows Newman smiling as he walks through Oakland 's streets . The 85-year - old was detained in North Korea in October , issued a public statement . State news reports Newman was detained for ` ` humanitarian '' reasons .