“KCNA (Korean Central News Agency) said King ‘confessed that he had decided to come over to the DPRK as he harbored ill feeling against inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination within the U.S. Army…He also expressed his willingness to seek refugee in the DPRK or a third country,” says an NBC report . It also quotes a family spokesman: “She’s a mom worried about her son and would be grateful for a phone call from him.” the KCNA report says.
That might take awhile. The Pentagon says it’s trying to get King back. Check out our declassified files on previous US Army defectors to North Korea. Learn about the mystery of Roy Chung, a US Army soldier who disappeared in Europe and ended up in North Korea.
Here’s the report from KCNA, via KCNA Watch:
“KCNA press release on result of intermediate investigation on US GI Travis King
Date: 16/08/2023 | Source: Voice of Korea (EN) | Read original version at source
On July 18th, Juche 112(2023) Travis King, second class private of the US army in south Korea, illegally intruded into the territory of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in the joint security area of Panmunjom.
Looking round the joint security area of Panmunjom together with tourists at around 3:30 p.m. on July 18th, King intentionally intruded into our area between the DPRK-US military contact room and resting room of military police officers to be caught by the soldiers of the Korean People’s Army on duty.
According to an investigation of an organ concerned, Travis King admitted that he illegally intruded into the territory of the DPRK.
During the investigation, he confessed that he decided to come over to the DPRK, opposed to inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination in the US army.
Saying he was disillusioned at the unequal American society, he expressed his will to seek political asylum either in the DPRK or in third country.
The investigation continues.
Pyongyang
August 16th, Juche 112(2023)”