U.S. Soldier in Custody in North Korea After Unauthorized Crossing
PAJU, South Korea/WASHINGTON – The U.S. military is facing a new crisis as an American soldier makes an unauthorized crossing into North Korea, throwing Washington into a state of uncertainty and concern. The soldier has been identified as Private Travis T. King, who joined the army in 2021 and was facing disciplinary action.
The incident occurred while King was on an orientation tour of the Joint Security Area (JSA) on the border between North and South Korea. It is reported that King crossed into North Korea on Tuesday without authorization, according to U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin.
“We believe that he is in (North Korean) custody, and so we’re closely monitoring and investigating the situation and working to notify the soldier’s next of kin,” Austin said during a briefing.
North Korea’s state media has yet to comment on the incident, and its mission to the United Nations in New York has not responded to requests for comment.
This unauthorized crossing comes amid heightened tension on the Korean peninsula. On Tuesday, a U.S. nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine arrived in the region, and North Korea conducted the test launch of two ballistic missiles into the sea on Wednesday.
South Korea’s military reported that the short-range missiles were fired from an area near Pyongyang, flying approximately 550 km and 600 km before landing in the sea off the east coast.
Additionally, North Korea has been testing increasingly powerful missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, including a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile last week.
The U.N. Command (UNC), which oversees security for the border area, has been in communication with North Korean officials regarding the U.S. soldier, stated a spokesperson for U.S. Forces Korea. The U.S. military is now working with their North Korean counterparts to resolve the situation.
The soldier, Private Travis T. King, was on a tour of the Panmunjom truce village when he crossed the Military Demarcation Line that has separated North and South Korea since the Korean War ended in 1953. The soldier’s motive for crossing is currently unknown.
However, King had faced legal troubles while based in South Korea, including accusations of assault and damaging a police car in an incident last October. He had pled guilty and was sentenced in February to a fine. The soldier had already completed his military detention and was scheduled to return to his home unit in the United States.
According to U.S. officials, King had passed through security at the airport alone and then fled to join a civilian tour of the demilitarized zone (DMZ). It was also revealed that King had been due to face disciplinary action by the U.S. military, but it remains unclear if that was related to the October incident.
Following this incident, all tours to Panmunjom have been indefinitely cancelled at the U.N. Command’s request. However, Imjingak in Paju, which marks the end of the road before the military-controlled bridge leading into the DMZ, remains busy with tourists.
Analysts have suggested that North Korean authorities may use this incident as propaganda against the United States. However, it is uncertain how long the soldier will be held in North Korea.
The incident occurred on the same day that senior South Korean and U.S. officials held talks on upgrading coordination in the event of a nuclear war with North Korea. The United States has promised to deploy more strategic assets to South Korea, such as aircraft carriers, submarines, and long-range bombers, which has drawn a strong response from Pyongyang.
A former North Korean diplomat who defected to the South speculated that King could be used as a propaganda tool for North Korea and potentially embarrass the United States. However, he added that holding an American soldier may not be a cost-effective strategy for North Korea in the long run.
The U.S. military and government officials are working diligently to resolve the situation and ensure the safe return of Private Travis T. King.