US Soldier Detained in North Korea Recently Released from Prison

Travis King, a 23-year-old second-class soldier in the US army, is suspected to be in North Korean custody after crossing the heavily fortified border between South and South Korea during a tour. This comes shortly after King was released from a South Korean prison where he served about two months on assault charges, according to an official in Seoul.

A Brief Detour

King, who joined the army in 2021, was released on July 10th after serving his sentence in South Korea. Following his release, he was escorted to the airport by South Korean authorities to board a flight to Fort Bliss, Texas. However, due to an issue with his ticket, King left the terminal and reportedly joined a tour.

A Deliberate Crossover

On Tuesday, King intentionally and without permission walked into North Korea, where he was apprehended. The crossing took place in Panmunjom, a border village with no residents, where North and South Korea signed an armistice in 1953 after three years of war. Today, it's a popular tourist attraction.

The United States is currently working to resolve the incident.