Command and North Korea since its creation at the close of the Korean War. Panmunjom, located inside the 248-kilometer-long (154-mile) Demilitarized Zone, has been jointly overseen by the U.N. North Korea’s state media didn’t immediately report on the border crossing.Ĭases of Americans or South Koreans defecting to North Korea are rare, though more than 30,000 North Koreans have fled to South Korea to avoid political oppression and economic difficulties since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War. Command said he is believed to be in North Korean custody and the command is working with its North Korean counterparts to resolve the incident. It wasn’t clear how he got to the border or how he spent the hours between leaving the airport on Monday and crossing the border a day later. officials provided additional details on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. The Army released his name and limited information after King’s family was notified of the incident. He bolted across the border, which is lined with guards and often crowded with tourists, on Tuesday afternoon local time in Korea. But instead of getting on the plane, he left the airport and later joined a tour of the Korean border village of Panmunjom. He was being sent home to Fort Bliss, Texas, on Monday, where he could have faced additional military disciplinary actions and discharge from the service.Īccording to officials, King, 23, was taken to the airport and escorted as far as customs. Private 2nd Class Travis King had been held on assault charges and was released on July 10 after serving his time. officials said Tuesday, becoming the first American detained in the North in nearly five years. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - An American soldier who had served nearly two months in a South Korean prison, fled across the heavily armed border into North Korea, U.S.
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