Disguising as a tourist, he suddenly took action and was detained for nearly 2 months for assaulting someone. The US Defense Minister confirmed that a 23-year-old US soldier crossed the border and entered the United Nations Army in North Korea | Panmunjom | Soldier
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed on the 18th that an active duty US military member stationed in South Korea crossed the military demarcation line of the Panmunjom Joint Security Zone without authorization on the same day and entered North Korea.
The cross-border operation alarmed the US side
Austin said at a regular press conference that he believes the soldier has been detained by North Korea and the US is investigating whether he is safe. There are many situations that need to be understood at this stage regarding this event.
The United States led United Nations Command earlier stated that a US citizen crossed the military demarcation line while visiting the Panmunjom Joint Security Zone with a tour group, and the United Nations Command is seeking to resolve the incident with North Korea.
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said at a regular press conference on the 18th that the State Department has not contacted North Korea or other governments, but believes that the Pentagon has already contacted the North Korean military.
When answering the question of whether the soldier sought "defection," Miller reiterated that the soldier "intentionally and voluntarily" crossed the military demarcation line between North and South Korea.
White House spokesperson Karina Jean Pierre said that President Joseph Biden has received a briefing on the matter. She said it is too early to determine the exact motive of the US soldier at the moment.
According to South Korean media reports, the US soldier crossed the military demarcation line at 3:27 pm on the 18th.
As of noon on the 19th, the North Korean side has not responded to this incident.
Disguising as a tourist and suddenly taking action
US Army spokesperson Bryce Dolby told media reporters that the US soldier, named Travis King, is a Private in the Army, 23 years old, and enlisted in January 2021.
According to military officials, Travis Kin was detained for nearly two months for assaulting someone and was released on the 10th of this month. He was originally scheduled to be deported back to his home country on the 17th through Incheon International Airport near Seoul and will face further military discipline.
However, when passing through customs at the airport, he got rid of the escorts and did not board the plane. He re-entered South Korea and later joined a tour group to visit Panmunjom.
A tourist group member told CBS as a witness that the group of 43 people arrived at Panmunjom on the afternoon of the 18th. While visiting one of the buildings, the man suddenly burst out laughing and rushed into the nearby building. The organizers and other members of the tour group were immediately stunned. "Later on, everyone realized that everything was in chaos."
The witness said that after the man entered the North Korean side, the tour group quickly returned to the "Freedom House" on the South Korean side, and everyone left testimony before being transported onto the bus.
According to the eyewitness, the tour group boarded the car in Seoul and members must present their identification documents in advance.