North Korea has acknowledged that it has detained US soldier Travis King, ending weeks of silence regarding his whereabouts. The 23-year-old went missing after crossing the heavily fortified border into North Korea during a civilian tour of the village of Panmunjom in July.
Mr. King’s case is significant as he is the first known American to be held in North Korea in almost five years. The United Nations Command, responsible for overseeing the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea, received confirmation of Mr. King’s custody but refrained from disclosing further details to avoid hindering ongoing efforts to secure his safe return.
Officials have been using a direct phone line to the North Korean Army in their attempts to gather information about Private 2nd Class King. However, due to the sensitive nature of the situation, the specifics of North Korea’s response have not been revealed.
Before his disappearance, Mr. King was supposed to be heading to Fort Bliss, Texas, after completing a prison sentence in South Korea. He had chosen to serve time at a labor camp rather than pay a fine, amounting to nearly $4,000 (£3,145). Consequently, he was declared absent without leave (AWOL) by US authorities.
Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh clarified that Mr. King was not in custody during his departure from South Korea, explaining why he was not escorted all the way to the gate. Military personnel accompanied him to the passport control area, but they were not allowed to proceed any further. Mr. King had informed the US military that he was near the gate, fully aware that he would be returning to Texas to face possible discharge.
