Western Reader
North Korea has chosen not to respond to the case of the US soldier who crossed the border into North Korea and is now missing.
According to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, North Korea has been unresponsive to any attempts to discuss the detainment of Travis King.
King, an American Army private, crossed into North Korea last Friday.
King Had Legal Issues in the US and South Korea Before Crossing
U.S. Officials do not currently believe that Travis King, the U.S. Army Soldier who Defected to North Korea earlier this week, was in Prior Contact with the North Korean Government or Military but that the Border Crossing was clearly done “Willfully and without Authorization.” pic.twitter.com/uxsFZlU3P7
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) July 20, 2023
According to reports from American and South Korean news outlets, King had a significant criminal record and was released from temporary holding before heading to the airport.
King initially planned to go to Texas but then decided to visit the Korean border. During a tour in the border village of Panmunjom, King separated from his group and entered North Korean territory, where he was apprehended shortly after.
Since then, there has been no communication about King’s whereabouts from either him or North Korean officials.
Even American representatives were unaware that King had crossed the border. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has not commented on the incident, nor has any official statement been issued.
King’s Motives for Crossing the Border Remain Unclear
Barely seen this covered. Would be treated as an international incident and crisis under Trump. https://t.co/bwNn4aRvj7
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) July 21, 2023
In a recent press release, the US government emphasized that King’s border crossing was an independent decision. There appears to be no direct link between his actions and his status as a soldier.
During interviews with various media outlets, King’s family expressed confusion and concern over his sudden disappearance into one of the most oppressive countries in the world.
Multiple South Korean media networks reported that King had a troubled past, with at least two arrests involving assaults on individuals and police officers.
This article appeared in The Political Globe and has been published here with permission.
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