DHAKA: North Korea has deported a US veteran of the Korean War who had been detained in the country since October, the state-run KCNA news agency reports.

It says Merrill Newman was expelled on "humanitarian grounds" after confessing to "crimes" against the state during the 1950-53 war and "apologising", reports BBC.

Newman, 85, had been held on charges of "hostile acts" against the North, while visiting at a tourist.

The US State Department has welcomed the decision to free him.

"We are pleased that Mr Merrill Newman has been allowed to depart the DPRK (North Korea) and re-join his family. We welcome the DPRK`s decision to release him," said Marie Harf, a State Department spokeswoman.

Last week, the KCNA said Newman had ordered the deaths of North Korean soldiers and civilians in the Korean War.

Although Newman did serve during the Korean War, his family says he is the victim of mistaken identity.

Pyongyang`s state media have routinely publicised alleged apologies from previous US detainees, which cannot be independently verified, says the BBC`s Lucy Williamson in Seoul.

BDST: 0902 HRS, DEC 07, 2013