Voluntarily enter North Korea!, North Korea announces investigation into US soldiers crossing the border into North Korea: Soldiers are extremely disappointed with the US investigation results | US military | Soldiers
North Korea announces the investigation results of US soldiers crossing the border into North Korea.
On July 18th local time, US soldier Travis King crossed the border into North Korea from the joint security zone located in Panmunjom on the North Korean border. On the 16th, the Korean Central News Agency announced the investigation results on this matter, stating that US soldiers crossing the border expressed "extreme disappointment" towards the United States and therefore voluntarily entered North Korea.
Korean Central News Agency: Cross border US soldiers are extremely disappointed with the United States
According to a report by the Korean Central News Agency, at 15:30 local time on July 18th, US soldier Travis Kim intentionally invaded North Korean territory while infiltrating tourists visiting the Panmunjom Joint Security Zone and was detained by North Korean People's Army soldiers on duty. Travis King has confirmed the fact that he illegally invaded North Korea and expressed his aversion to inhumane abuse and racial discrimination within the US military. He is extremely disappointed with the unequal American society and has decided to seek refuge in North Korea. He also said he hopes to seek asylum from North Korea or a third country. The report concludes that the investigation into Travis King will continue.
Pentagon: Unable to verify North Korea's statement. The primary task is to bring the soldier home
According to Reuters, a spokesperson for the US Pentagon responded on the 15th that it was impossible to verify the statements made by North Korean Central News Agency. The spokesperson stated that the US remains concerned about the safe return of Travis King and the primary task is to bring him home. Currently, the US is working through all existing channels to achieve this goal. On July 18th, US Secretary of Defense Austin confirmed that an active US military member stationed in South Korea crossed the military demarcation line of the Panmunjom Joint Security Zone without authorization and entered North Korea. According to American media, this is the first American soldier to cross the border to North Korea in over 40 years. The New York Times reported that this incident was shocking.
The soldier involved in the assault incident should have returned to the United States to receive military disciplinary action
Travis King is 23 years old and enlisted in January 2021. According to US military sources, the soldier was previously detained in South Korea for nearly two months for assaulting someone, and was just released on July 10th. Travis King was originally scheduled to face military disciplinary action upon returning to the United States, but he was taken by military police to Incheon Airport in South Korea and did not board the plane. The next day, he also participated in a tour group to visit Panmunjom. At present, the tourism group project to the joint security zone has been suspended.
American media: This incident may bring diplomatic trouble to the United States
CNN reported that as the United States joins forces with South Korea to exert pressure on North Korea, this incident may cause diplomatic trouble for the United States. As a private, Jin is unlikely to have access to top-level information, but his identity means he knows the layout, number, and deployment of US military bases.
The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the United States House of Representatives, McCall, previously stated that he was "concerned" about the "cost" of the United States replacing the soldier.