Private Travis King, a 23-year-old US soldier and reconnaissance specialist, is now in American custody after being expelled by North Korea. King had fled from South to North Korea in July, with North Korean media claiming he had escaped due to “inhuman treatment” and racism within the US military. The details of his condition and confinement in North Korea remain undisclosed.
King was transferred into US custody in China, as reported by US media. He had initially been in South Korea as part of a unit rotation and had served two months in detention there on assault charges before crossing into North Korea. His family has stated that he experienced discrimination while serving in the US military and that his mental health had suffered during his time in South Korean custody.
North Korea’s decision to expel King was relatively swift compared to previous cases involving Americans. Some analysts had speculated that North Korea might use King as a diplomatic bargaining chip. The Pentagon expressed gratitude to the Swedish and Chinese governments for their roles in securing King’s release, as Sweden traditionally negotiates on behalf of the US in North Korea due to the absence of diplomatic relations between the US and North Korea.
King’s family has expressed their gratitude for his return but does not intend to give any interviews “for the foreseeable future.” The US Department of State and the White House have not immediately commented on the matter. It remains unclear whether King could face additional charges over his decision to enter North Korea.