The United States has called on North Korea to release an elderly American military veteran arrested since last month.
Pyongyang has held Merrill E. Newman accusing him of killing civilians during the Korean War 60 years ago.
The State Department said Swedish embassy officials were granted permission to visit Newman on Saturday, the first access by Western officials to him since his arrest.
According to CBS News, Newman, an 85-year old former special forces officer, was detained at the end of a trip to North Korea.
A State Department official said that on November 30, the DPRK permitted the Embassy of Sweden, protecting power for issues involving U.S. citizens in North Korea, consular access to U.S. citizen Merrill Newman.
The official urged DPRK to release Newman due to his advanced age and health conditions, so that he may return home and reunite with his family. (ANI)