The United States is doing everything it can to secure the release of American Korean War veteran Merrill Newman, the U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Glyn Davies said on Friday.

Speaking to reporters in Seoul as part of an East Asia focused diplomatic trip, Davies said that the U.S. would “seek to resolve the consular cases that have arisen in North Korea”.

These cases include the month long apprehension of Newman and detention of Korean-American missionary Kenneth Bae, who has been in North Korean custody for over a year.

“We continue to call on the North Koreans to release Mr