The crossing of the border into North Korea by a young US soldier made headlines in July. For a long time it was unclear how the authoritarian country wanted to deal with him. Now Pyongyang is making a decision that is not entirely surprising.
Two months after crossing the border into North Korea without permission, a US soldier has to leave the largely isolated country again. North Korean authorities have expelled Travis K. from the country, as the South Korean news agency Yonhap reported on Wednesday, citing the neighboring country’s state media. The reason given was that the soldier had entered the People’s Republic illegally. It was initially unclear when he would leave the country.
Soldier claims he left the US Army because of “inhumane treatment”.
North Korea first commented on the whereabouts of the young American in mid-August. He is said to have stated that he defected to North Korea out of anger over “the inhumane treatment and racial discrimination in the US Army.” According to Pyongyang, the soldier, who is black, expressed a desire to seek refuge in North Korea or a third country.
North Korea’s account of the man’s alleged motives could not be independently verified. The US had no direct access to him. Both countries do not have diplomatic relations.
Prison sentence in South Korea
According to US forces in South Korea, the soldier took part in a commercial tour along the South Korean part of the demilitarized zone in July and then intentionally crossed the border with North Korea. As the US Department of Defense later announced, the soldier was actually supposed to return home. In South Korea he had spent a certain amount of time in a detention center for a crime.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
