North Korea: North Korea has claimed that the American soldier, Mr. Travis King, who crossed the country’s border last month, was escaping from the US army because of “inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination.”
The statement was published in the country’s state media. Mr. King reportedly crossed North Korean territory from South Korea on 18th July 2023. According to the state media, the US soldier admitted to the illegal crossing and wanted refuge in the country.
North Korea stated that Mr. King has confessed to crossing the border illegally with the intent to stay in North Korea or in a third country. But the US denied believing the claims, as this was the first response North Korea made to the case.
The concerns have been increasing about the soldier’s well-being. The US is working to secure the release of Mr. King through negotiations involving the UN Command, which manages the border region and maintains direct communication with the North Korean army.
“During the investigation, Travis King confessed that he had decided to come over to the DPRK as he harbored ill feelings against inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination within the U.S. Army. He also expressed his willingness to seek refuge in the DPRK or a third country, saying that he was disillusioned at the unequal American society,” North Korean state news agency KCNA reported.
Mr. King is a reconnaissance specialist who has been in the army since January 2021 and was in South Korea as part of his rotation, as per the statement. US authorities have expressed their belief that King’s border crossing was intentional and have chosen not to label him as a prisoner of war.
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