North Korea: U.S. Soldier Arrested in North Korea For Violating Discipline Caused Diplomatic Disturbance

US soldier crossed the border into North Korea, Img source: Google.

Comprehensive reports from Central Daily, The Independent, and the Associated Press: Travis King, a 23-year-old private soldier in the US Army in South Korea. On the afternoon of the 18th, King crossed the border into North Korea "unauthorized" without authorization, causing a diplomatic disturbance. U.S. Defense Secretary Austin said the U.S. believes Travis is currently being held by North Korea. U.S. Forces Korea said it was "cooperating with the North Korean military to resolve this incident." Travis entered North Korea for unknown reasons. Korean media disclosed on the 19th that he was repeatedly involved in violent incidents in South Korea and was fined and imprisoned. Travis' mother denies he "defected" to North Korea and has called on Washington to take him home.

At around 3:27 pm local time on the 18th, Travis. When Kim accompanied the group to visit the joint security area at Panmunjom on the inter-Korean demarcation line, he suddenly laughed and crossed the military demarcation line into North Korea. Austin confirmed the incident later in the day and said: "We are still trying to learn more details. We believe that he has been detained (by the North Korean side). Therefore, we are closely monitoring and investigating the situation and contacting his relatives."

According to reports, Travis had previously served 50 days in prison in a detention center in Seoul for assault charges. He was released on the 10th of this month and then returned to the Humphreys Barracks of the US Army in South Korea to complete the formalities for retirement from active service. He was scheduled to return to Texas for disciplinary action. On the 18th, the U.S. Army in South Korea sent someone to take him to Incheon International Airport, but the escorts could not go through customs with him. After undergoing security checks, he did not board the plane for unknown reasons, but escaped from the terminal and joined a tour group of the Panmunjom Joint Security Area.

Soldiers Who Crossed The Border Once Scolded The Korean Army

Travis enlists in 2021, and it is unclear when he will be stationed in South Korea. Korean media disclosed on the 19th that Travis beat a Korean man at a nightclub near Hongik University in Mapo District, Seoul on September 25 last year. In the early morning of October 8 last year, the Mapo District police received another report that Travis had committed violent acts. After the police arrived at the scene, Travis kicked the right rear door of the police car several times, causing damage to the vehicle. After he was arrested, he refused to answer the police's questions, and shouted: "Korean guys die, Han Jun die!"

The Seoul Western District Court combined the two cases, but the victim in the first case settled with Travis and dropped the case. In February of this year, Travis pleaded guilty to violent assault and damage to public goods, and was fined 5 million won (about 30,000 Hong Kong dollars).

China Updates

The specific reason why Travis trespassed in North Korea is unknown, and some people suspect that he defected in order to avoid the punishment of the US military. Reuters quoted analysts as reporting that he seemed to go to North Korea voluntarily. The question is whether North Korea will accept his "surrender". Travis' mother Claudine. Gates said in an interview with the US media that she had contacted her son a few days ago and did not believe that he would run away on purpose. "I just want him to come home and come back to America," Gates said.

U.S.-North Korea Relations Worsen Under Biden Presidency

Incidents of U.S. citizens being detained for illegally entering North Korea or suspected of crimes while traveling in North Korea have occurred from time to time. Many have been sentenced to several years of hard labor, but in most cases they can be released through diplomatic mediation. It is extremely rare for American soldiers to enter North Korea. The most famous is Army Sergeant Charles. Jenkins. He defected to North Korea in 1965, but later said he made the wrong decision when he was drunk. Jenkins was not allowed to leave until 2004.

Since US President Biden took office in 2021, US-DPRK relations have continued to deteriorate. The cross-border incident by U.S. soldiers coincided with the revisit of a prudent nuclear submarine of US to South Korea after 42 years. North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles in the early morning of the 19th to demonstrate. South Korean media analyzed that North Korea remained silent on the incident of US soldiers crossing the border. It may be investigating the identity of this person, interrogating his motives for crossing the border, his background, and whether he really defected, and then decide how to use this matter to negotiate terms with the US.

US army private 2nd class Travis King Defected.

South Korean media quoted experts as saying that the North Korean side may use "the U.S. military's voluntary defection" as a propaganda material, but it may also use the release of people as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the U.S. side. Jin Rongxuan, a professor at Dongguk University, said that on the issue of releasing people, the United States is asking North Korea, so North Korea does not need to rush to express its position, and can wait and see the reaction of the United States. However, even if the DPRK and the U.S. contact each other on this matter, the possibility of discussing denuclearization is slim.