North Korea has finally admitted the crossing over of a US soldier, with Pyongyang saying that the soldier, Travis King, has admitted to illegally intruding due to alleged inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination within the US Army, according to the South Korean news agency Yonhap news agency citing North Koreas state media KCNA on Wednesday.This announcement from North Korea, officially known as the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK), represents the first official confirmation of Travis Kings status. He crossed the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) into North Korea during a tour of the Joint Security Area (JSA) in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on July 18.North Korea announced: Travis King confessed that he was disgusted with the inhuman abuse and racial discrimination within the US military, and was extremely disappointed with the unequal American society. He was determined to defect to the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea pic.twitter.com/uKmRbhMjUG— Technology without borders (@htchpros) August 16, 2023Quoting the Norths official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Yonhap reported, “Travis King confessed that he had decided to come over to the DPRK as he harboured ill feeling against inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination within the US Army.”The report continued, “He also expressed his willingness to seek refuge in the DPRK or a third country, saying that he was disillusioned at the unequal American society.”The KCNA stated that its soldiers took custody of King after he deliberately intruded into the Norths side of the JSA. An ongoing investigation is being conducted by a relevant organ.Soldier had crossed into North Korea without authorisation: US ArmyUS officials have stated that King willfully crossed the MDL without authorisation during a group tour. However, North Korea has not provided any substantial response to inquiries about his status.The US-led UN Command, responsible for overseeing activities in the DMZ, has acknowledged working with North Korean counterparts to address the incident but has not provided specific details.Travis King had encountered legal issues while stationed in South Korea, having been detained in a prison workshop for 48 days earlier this year for failing to pay a fine related to charges of damaging a police patrol car.Despite being set to return home on July 17, King did not board his flight and instead participated in the JSA tour the following day.This incident occurs amid heightened tensions due to North Koreas ongoing weapons tests, including the launch of an Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile last month.
