North Korea announced that it will “expel” U.S. soldier Travis King from the country.
BREAKING: North Korea just announced that it will 'expel' 23-year-old Travis King, the US soldier who has been detained there since he ran across the South Korean border in July. By 'expel', they mean 'deport' him. They didn't say exactly when the young soldier will be released. pic.twitter.com/MyghU3sv38
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) September 27, 2023
The Korean Central News Agency announced, “The relevant organ of the DPRK decided to expel Travis King, a soldier of the U.S. Army who illegally intruded into the territory of the DPRK, under the law of the Republic.”
They have not agreed to send him home or disclosed exactly when the deportation would take place, according to the New York Post. However, The Hill reported a senior U.S. official confirmed he was in American custody after the announcement of his release.
The 23-year-old soldier illegally crossed into North Korea after being released from a South Korean prison and was scheduled to be sent home with a military escort in July.
He pleaded guilty to assault and destruction of property charges related to incidents that occurred in 2022 and was fined $3,950 by the Seoul Western District Court and faced disciplinary action from the U.S. military.
King snuck away from his escort while being transferred and intentionally crossed into North Korea.
Mikaela Johansson, a Swedish tourist who witnessed the crossing, wrote, “To our right, we hear a loud HA-HA-HA and one guy from OUR GROUP that has been with us all day- runs in between two of the buildings and over to the other side!!”
The Pentagon later declined to grant King prisoner of war status but did request for him to be “treated humanely in accordance with international law.”
The North Korean government then claimed that King planned to defect in an effort to flee “racism” and poor treatment.
U.S. military officials have denied allegations of mistreating King, and the conditions under which he has been living since fleeing to North Korea are not known.