WASHINGTON: In a surprising development, the White House announced that the US soldier who had crossed into North Korea via the heavily fortified border between the Koreas two months ago has been released and is now in US custody. This move follows North Korea’s declaration that it would expel Private Travis King.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed the soldier’s release, expressing appreciation for the interagency team’s dedicated efforts to ensure Private King’s well-being. The circumstances leading to North Korea’s decision to release King remain unclear, but officials suspect that Pyongyang may have considered him of limited value in terms of leverage or information due to his low-ranking status.
“In addition, we thank the Sweden government for its diplomatic role serving as the protecting power for the United States (US) in [North Korea] and the government of China for its assistance in facilitating the transit of Private King,” Sullivan stated.
It was initially reported by The Associated Press that King was in US custody, with one unnamed US official confirming that King had been transferred to US custody in China.
North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) had previously reported that King confessed to illegally entering the North due to “ill feeling against inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination” within the US Army. Following an investigation, the “relevant organ of the DPRK decided to expel Travis King, a soldier of the US Army who illegally intruded into the territory of the DPRK,” as stated by KCNA.
US Soldier Border-Crossing into North Korea
King’s border-crossing incident occurred in July when he dashed into North Korea while on a tour of the southern side of an inter-Korean truce village. Prior to this, he had been serving nearly two months in a South Korean prison for assault. After his release, he was on his way home to Fort Bliss, Texas, where he could have faced additional military discipline and discharge.
The circumstances surrounding King’s hours between his release and border crossing remain unclear. Jonathan Franks, a spokesperson for King’s mother, Claudine Gates, expressed gratitude to the United States Army and its interagency partners for their work in securing his release.
King’s return to the United States and the details of his release remain to be disclosed. The border between the two Koreas, particularly at the Joint Security Area, is marked only by a low concrete divider and is relatively easy to cross, despite the presence of soldiers on both sides.
King’s border-crossing incident occurred during a period of heightened tensions between North and South Korea, with diplomatic efforts at a standstill and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un calling for increased weapons development, including tactical nuclear warheads. The United States and South Korea had responded with joint military exercises and heightened defense cooperation.
