Newman was a customer of Juche Travel Services of London , and he traveled with `` one other gentleman '' to North Korea on the same private tour , Merrill Newman , 85 , was detained by North Korean authorities on August 26 , his agency says . Newman , a Korean War veteran , was finishing up a 10-day tour of the country . The day before he was due to leave , he was questioned by North Korean authorities . He had ` ` all necessary and valid travel documents to take his tour , '' agency says .
Merrill Newman , 85 , was detained by North Korean authorities on August 26 , his agency says . Newman , a Korean War veteran , was finishing up a 10-day tour of the country . The day before he was due to leave , he was questioned by North Korean authorities . He had ` ` all necessary and valid travel documents to take his tour , '' agency says .