A clearly relieved American war veteran freed by North Korea after more than a month in detention has arrived home in the US.
Merrill Newman, 85, made a brief statement after landing at San Francisco airport, saying he was delighted to be back after his release on humanitarian grounds by the communist state, which said the American had cited his "sincere repentance".
"It has been a great homecoming, and I am tired, but can be with my family now," said the Korean War veteran, his wife and son by his side.
"Thank you all for the support we got."
The official Korean Central News Agency said earlier that Newman's age and health condition had been factors that led to his release.
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Having been deported to Beijing, Newman boarded a commercial flight and landed in San Francisco about 9am local time.
Newman, who has a heart condition, was plucked off a plane in October as he was leaving Pyongyang following a tourist visit.
His release coincided with US Vice President Joe Biden's visit to the DMZ, the demilitarised zone that has split the Korean peninsula since the 1950-1953 Korean War, the world's last Cold War frontier.
"The DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of North Korea) today released someone they should never have had in the first place, Mr Newman," Biden said earlier after laying a wreath at the war memorial in Seoul.
"It's a positive thing they've done," added Biden, on the last stop of a three-country Asia trip.
Biden also urged Pyongyang to free another US citizen, Kenneth Bae, a 45-year-old tour operator arrested a year ago and sentenced to 15 years' hard labour on charges of seeking to topple the government.
Newman's family said he was detained on October 26 shortly before take-off from the North Korean capital.
Biden's office said the vice president had spoken to him by telephone.
"I offered him a ride home on Air Force Two, but as he pointed out, there's a direct flight to San Francisco, so I don't blame him, I'd be on that flight too," Biden told reporters.
