The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), through the state news agency KCNA, has made the decision to expel US soldier Travis King. King, who was detained after illegally crossing the border from South Korea in July, will be released in accordance with the law of the Republic. However, no specific information regarding the time and location of his release has been provided.
North Korea alleges that King defected to escape mistreatment and racial discrimination within the US Army. The investigation conducted by a relevant DPRK organ revealed that King confessed to illegally intruding into their territory due to feelings of ill treatment and disillusionment with the unequal US society.
King’s border crossing occurred on July 18, following a series of incidents including a drunken bar brawl, an altercation with the police, and a period of incarceration in a South Korean jail. His intended return to the United States was to face disciplinary consequences for these actions. However, rather than proceeding to the airport, King joined a sightseeing tour of the Demilitarized Zone between the two Koreas and subsequently fled across the border.
It is important to note that King’s border crossing took place during a period of strained relations between the two Koreas, characterized by diplomatic stagnation and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s call for increased weapons development, including tactical nuclear warheads.
