Grieving Soldier Crosses Into North Korea Following Cousin’s Tragic Death

The family of Pvt. 2nd Class Travis King, the 23-year-old American soldier who entered North Korea on Tuesday, is sharing insights into his recent mental state. According to his uncle, King, who had spent two months in a South Korean prison for assault charges and was returning to the US for potential further discipline when he crossed the border, may have acted out in response to his grief. He has been struggling since his 6-year-old cousin, the son of that same uncle, passed away in February. The uncle states to NBC News that “He’s still grieving, and that had a lot to do with what he did.” He also tells the Daily Beast, “When my son was on life support, and when my son passed away… Travis started becoming reckless and crazy when he knew my son was about to die… It seemed like he was breaking down. It affected Travis a lot because he couldn’t be here. He was in the Army, overseas.”

Another uncle, along with King’s grandfather, asserts that King is typically introverted, enjoying personal time and reading his Bible. The uncle says, “It’s out of his character. I’ve never seen him in this state before. Something’s not right. This isn’t his usual personality.” King’s mother echoes the sentiment, stating to ABC News, “I can’t imagine Travis doing something like that.” The first uncle adds that King was having difficulty being so far away from home, saying, “Travis has a lot on his mind, and we’re concerned for him.” He further expresses his apprehension, noting that since King was detained by North Korean soldiers, “Now we don’t know where he is, we don’t know what they’re doing to him, and we may never see him again.” For more details on King and the events leading up to his crossing the border, please click here.