North Korea has confirmed the detention of an 85-year old American Merrill Newman, a retiree from Palo Alto and a Korean War veteran. Newman was pulled off from his flight just as he was about to leave North Korea back for home on October 26. He has not been heard since then. 

According to Newman's family, Newman and his traveling companion Bill Hamrdla organized a 10-day private tour of North Korea. Newman suffers from a heart condition, and has only enough medication to last the trip. 

Newman's detention brings the number of American citizens detained in North Korea to 7. Despite these detentions, Newman is part of a growing group of people who sign up to venture into one of the most closed-off country in the world through state-approved tours. 

SEE ALSO: How you travel to North Korea 

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