North Korea has confirmed that Private 2nd Class Travis King, a U.S. soldier, is currently in the country. The announcement came after King crossed the heavily armed Korean border last month. North Korea claims that King made the decision to enter the country due to disillusionment with the inequality and discrimination present in American society. The U.S. Defense Department has not been able to verify these claims but remains focused on ensuring King’s safe return.
According to the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), King admitted to illegally intruding into North Korean territory during an investigation conducted by a relevant organ of the DPRK. He cited “inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination within the U.S. Army” as his motivation for entering North Korea. The U.S. had reached out to North Korea in July regarding King’s situation, marking the first public acknowledgment of Pyongyang’s response to the matter. The Pentagon utilized established channels at the United Nations Command to make these requests.
Prior to entering North Korea, King was scheduled to return to the U.S. and separate from the Army after serving time in a South Korean detention facility for assaulting two South Koreans and damaging a patrol car. While being escorted to the commercial airport outside Seoul, King parted ways with his escort and skipped his flight, ultimately finding his way to North Korea. KCNA reported that King had accompanied tourists to the joint security area of Panmunjom on July 18.
During the investigation, King expressed his willingness to seek refuge in North Korea or another third country, indicating his disillusionment with the unequal American society. North Korea has stated that the investigation into King will continue. This marks the first official comments from North Korea regarding King since his entrance to the country.
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