loading…
US troops crossing the North Korean border will be expelled. Photo/Reuters
PYONGYANG – North Korea decided to expel United States (US) soldier Travis King, who it said had admitted to illegal infiltration into the country.
As reported by the North Korean news agency, King also admitted to being “disappointed by the inequality of US society.”
KCNA released the final results of its investigation into King’s border crossing in July, after saying in its interim findings that he wanted to seek refuge in North Korea or elsewhere due to mistreatment and racial discrimination among soldiers.
“King admitted that he illegally intruded into DPRK territory because he harbored unpleasant feelings about the inhumane mistreatment and racial discrimination among US soldiers and was disappointed with the unequal nature of US society,” KCNA said.
DPRK is the initials of North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Authorities have decided to expel King based on the country’s laws, KCNA said, but did not specify how, when or where he would be expelled.
The US State Department and White House could not immediately be reached for comment.
King, a military soldier, suddenly crossed the North Korean border from the South on July 18, 2023 while on a civilian tour of the Joint Security Area on the heavily fortified border between the two neighboring countries.
There have been several attempts by US soldiers stationed in South Korea to desert or defect to North Korea.
But King’s expulsion occurred relatively quickly compared to other attempts made years before his release from the closed country.
(ahm)
