WASHINGTON: The US on Thursday expressed concern over Army Private Travis King, who dashed into North Korea a few days ago, adding Pyongyang had a track record of mistreating captured citizens of the United States.
In her first public remarks on the matter, US Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said the US was completely mobilized in trying to establish contact with North Korea, including via UN communications channels.
Washington Concerned at Fate of Personnel in N Korea
But Pyongyang had yet to offer any reply, officials added. “I worry regarding the US solider,” she told the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado. Christine Wormuth cited the matter of Otto Warmbier, a US college student, who was jailed in N Korea for 17 months before dying shortly following the student was returned to the US in a coma in 2017.
At the White House, the US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby also voiced concern and “This is not a state that is known for humane treatment of the US nationals.”
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The US officials remained confused regarding why King ran across the border into N Korea. But Wormuth admitted the US soldier was likely worried regarding confronting further disciplinary action from the military upon his return to the US, Reuters reported.
Wormuth said she was not aware of anything reflecting the solider was a sympathizer of N Korea, and the US State Department also played down suggestions he might present an intelligence liability.
