US soldier who crossed into North Korea 2 months ago is in American custody, US officials say

[BumRushDaShow]

Last edited Wed Sep 27, 2023, 10:03 AM - Edit history (3)

Source: AP

Updated 9:49 AM EDT, September 27, 2023


SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The U.S. soldier who sprinted into North Korea across the heavily fortified border between the Koreas two months ago was released into American custody Wednesday, according to two officials.

Earlier, North Korea said it would expel Pvt. Travis King — an announcement that surprised some observers who had expected the North to drag out his detention in the hopes of squeezing concessions from Washington at a time of high tensions between the rivals.

King’s expulsion almost certainly does not end his troubles or ensure the sort of celebratory homecoming that has accompanied the releases of other detained Americans.

And there remain unanswered questions about the episode, including why King went to North Korea in the first place. His fate also remains uncertain, having been declared AWOL by the U.S. government. That can mean punishment by time in military jail, forfeiture of pay or a dishonorable discharge.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-us-soldier-travis-king-00c171778e378d95fe1115fe31612ec2

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Changed source. Article updated.

Previous articles/headlines/source link -

US officials say Travis King, who crossed into North Korea, is in American custody

Updated 9:14 AM EDT, September 27, 2023


SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- Pvt. Travis King, the American soldier who crossed into North Korea two months ago, is in U.S. custody, two U.S. officials said Wednesday.

One official said King was transferred to American custody in China. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss King's status ahead of the announcement.

Earlier, North Korea said it would expel King, 23. That announcement surprised some observers who had expected the North to drag out his detention in the hopes of squeezing concessions from Washington at a time of high tensions between the rivals.

Though King's expulsion resolves a still-mysterious episode, it almost certainly does not end his troubles or ensure the sort of celebratory homecoming that has accompanied the releases of other detained Americans. His fate remains uncertain, having been declared AWOL by the U.S. government. That can mean punishment by time in military jail, forfeiture of pay or a dishonorable discharge.

Travis King: North Korea to deport US soldier who crossed border

20 minutes ago


North Korea says it will deport US soldier Travis King, who ran across the border from South Korea during a tour in July. Pyongyang will deport him having finished its investigation into King's "illegal" entry, state news agency KNCA said. It did not specify how, when or to where Private King would be expelled - nor what his state of health was. The announcement comes a month after North Korea acknowledged detaining him.

According to KCNA, the 23-year-old confessed to having illegally crossed into North Korea "due to inhuman treatment in the US military, antipathy to racism and disillusionment with the unequal US society." "The relevant body in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has decided to deport US soldier Travis King, who illegally entered the territory of the republic, in accordance with the laws of the republic," it said.

Private King, a reconnaissance specialist who had been in the army since January 2021, has not been heard from or seen since his crossing. He was in South Korea as part of his rotation and had been due to be sent home to the US to be disciplined after spending two months in detention in South Korea on assault charges. Private King was on a guided tour of the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), which separates the two Koreas, when he left the group and ran across the border.

The two countries are technically still at war after the Korean War ended with an armistice in the 1950s. Tens of thousands of US troops remain in the South. In recent years, a number of American citizens who illegally entered North Korea - excluding those convicted of criminal activity there - have been freed within six months.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66936277

8 minutes ago


North Korea says it will deport US soldier Travis King, who ran across the border from South Korea during a tour in July. Pyongyang will deport him having finished its investigation into King's "illegal" entry, state news agency KNCA said. It did not specify how, when or to where Private King would be expelled - nor what his state of health was.

The announcement comes a month after North Korea acknowledged detaining him. According to KCNA, the 23-year-old confessed to having illegally crossed into North Korea "due to inhuman treatment in the US military, antipathy to racism and disillusionment with the unequal US society."

"The relevant body in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has decided to deport US soldier Travis King, who illegally entered the territory of the republic, in accordance with the laws of the republic," it said. Private King has not been heard from or seen since his crossing. He was on a guided tour of the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), which separates the two Koreas, when he left the group and ran across the border.

The two countries are technically still at war after the Korean War ended with an armistice in the 1950s. Tens of thousands of US troops remain in the South. In recent years, a number of American citizens who illegally entered North Korea - excluding those convicted of criminal activity there - have been freed within six months.

3 minutes ago


North Korea says it will deport US soldier Travis King who ran across the border from South Korea during a tour in July. Pyongyang will deport him having finished its investigation into King's "illegal" entry, state news agency KNCA said.

KCNA did not specify how, when or to where Private King would be expelled. His release comes a month after North Korea acknowledged detaining the 23-year-old.

According to KCNA, he confessed to having illegally crossed into North Korea "due to inhuman treatment in the US military, antipathy to racism and disillusionment with the unequal US society."

"The relevant body in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has decided to deport US soldier Travis King, who illegally entered the territory of the republic, in accordance with the laws of the republic," KCNA said. No details have been given about Private King's state of health and he has not been heard from or seen since his crossing.

7 minutes ago


North Korea says it will deport US soldier Travis King who ran across the border from South Korea during a tour in July.

Pyongyang would deport him after finishing its investigation into King's "illegal" entry, state news agency KNCA said.

KCNA did not specify how, when or to where King would be expelled.

The 23-year-old private was on a guided tour when he separated from the group and ran across the border.


This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Original article/headline -

N Korea to expel US soldier Travis King

5 minutes ago


North Korea says it will expel US soldier Travis King who ran across the border from South Korea during a tour in July


This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

[Duncanpup]

1. Excellent

Now here’s hoping the army can treat his mental health issues

[COL Mustard]

2. A few years in Leavenworth

Will help with that!

[Duncanpup]

9. Not sure will see

I mean to bail to North Korea troop wasn’t playing full deck.

And I’ve seen dudes in my two units I was in couple of them had mental health problems. So let psych docs determine if young soldier is sick.

[marble falls]

12. A voice of reason. Blessed are the peacemakers.

[COL Mustard]

22. You really have to be a first class fuckup

If the Norks don’t want you!😳

[onetexan]

3. "Expel" is cover for behind the scenes diplomatic wranglings

In response to diplomatic negotiations im sure.
This is a young man whose known to have had lots of issues before. The occurence is lessons learned for the military. They should have had him closely escorted to make sure he didn't run.

[cstanleytech]

4. In other words they don't think he is worth using as a bargaining chip.

[Effete Snob]

5. Yep

What sort of deal could anyone make? He ran there because we want to lock him up anyway. The message should have been, “Thanks, you can have him, since he wants to stay there.”

If they kept him, they’d be implicitly suggesting it’s okay for people to flee across borders to escape an oppressive government, and that’s a message they’d rather not send.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

6. So all the speculation this illegal immigrant would be tortured or worse was just another

example of multiple melees social media rantings?

Deported? Oh, the evil!,

Whatever issues social media and the government of the Pentagon inflated that the soldier had…the man was still fit to be a soldier posted to South Korea…the Pentagon smeared their own soldier to save themselves from embarrassment…now released the propaganda will go up a notch.

There’s your trillion a years taxpayer dollars at work…propaganda style!.

[Torchlight]

7. Guess it was as empty and meritless as speculative rants over balloons.

'Physician, Heal Thyself' would make a great tattoo.

[Pepsidog]

8. The probably can't feed him.

[dalton99a]

10. US officials say Travis King is in American custody. The US soldier crossed into North Korea in July

https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-us-soldier-travis-king-00c171778e378d95fe1115fe31612ec2

US officials say Travis King is in American custody. The US soldier crossed into North Korea in July

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Travis King, the US soldier who crossed into North Korea, is in American custody, according to two US officials.

One official said Wednesday that King was transferred to U.S. custody in China.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss King’s status ahead of the US announcement.

[BumRushDaShow]

11. Just saw the AP breaking... BBC hasn't updated yet.

[twodogsbarking]

13. In the U.S., the war was initially described by President Harry S. Truman as a "police action",

as the United States never formally declared war on its opponents, and the operation was conducted under the auspices of the United Nations.

[BumRushDaShow]

15. That's what my mom always emphasized

The "first" U.N. intervention. Her generation were the Korean War vets...

[twodogsbarking]

16. Thanks mom. This from the article......

The two countries are technically still at war after the Korean War ended with an armistice in the 1950s.

[BumRushDaShow]

17. I would always point out this to her --

and she would roll her eyes...

[mitch96]

18. Like Ruzzia's "Special Military Operation" in Ukraine...nt

[Wonder Why]

19. No. It was approved by the UN Security Council.

[aeromanKC]

14. ASAP to Leavenworth mental health wing

[tonekat]

20. They probably decided

They weren't going to get a lot of intelligence out of this guy so they injected him with something contagious and said "Here!"

[twodogsbarking]

21. I would like to know more. Too weird.