“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.”
Source:U.S. ‘deeply concerned’ about citizens held in North Korea – CNN.com