Radio Free Asia reported Wednesday that North Korea charged some three thousand dollars for food and accommodation after releasing detained U.S. citizen Merrill Newman in late 2013.
 
The U.S. broadcaster said Newman received the bill through the U.S. State Department and the Swedish Embassy in North Korea a few weeks after his release. It is believed that he has not made a payment for the bill.
 
The former intelligence officer during the Korean War went to North Korea as a tourist in October last year. He was detained for 42 days over charges of "hostile acts."