U.S. citizen Merrill E. Newman puts his thumbprint on a piece of paper, after being taken into custody by North Korea, at an undisclosed location in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang
The United States welcomed North Korea's release of an American veteran of the Korean War who had been held for more than a month, and urged Pyongyang to repeat the move with another US detainee.
Merrill Newman, an 85-year-old from California, was deported "from a humanitarian viewpoint," the North's official news agency KCNA said, citing his "sincere repentance" as well as his age and health condition as factors for his being freed.
"We are pleased that Mr Merrill Newman has been allowed to depart the DPRK and rejoin his family. We welcome the DPRK's decision to release him," State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said in a statement.
The elderly Californian with heart problems was plucked off a plane on October 26 as he was leaving Pyongyang following a tourist visit.
His release came as US Vice President Joe Biden visited South Korea, the last stop on a three-country Asia tour that has already taken him to Japan and China.
In welcoming Pyongyang's "positive decision," Harf renewed calls for the reclusive country to free another American, Kenneth Bae.
The 45-year-old tour operator was arrested a year ago and sentenced to 15 years' hard labor on charges of seeking to topple the government.
"We call on the DPRK once again to pardon and grant Mr Bae special amnesty and immediately release him as a humanitarian gesture so that he too can return home to his family," she said.
"The US government will continue to work actively on his case."
Harf thanked the Swedish government, whose embassy acted on Washington's behalf since the United States has no formal ties with North Korea, for its "tireless efforts."
Last week Pyongyang for the first time officially admitted holding Newman, saying he was detained for "hostile acts" after entering the country "under the guise of a tourist."
North Korea had accused him of committing crimes both as a tourist and during his
participation in the Korean War.
The North also claimed that Newman masterminded espionage and subversive activities during the war and was involved in the killing of North Korean soldiers and innocent civilians.
State media had released a video of Newman, a retired financial executive who spent time in North Korea during the war, confessing to his crimes.