North Korea

Soldier Who Crossed Into North Korea Back in US Custody

SEP 27 2023·Updated AUG 27

Story

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

The Facts

The White House officially announced on Wednesday that Private Travis King, the US soldier who fled into North Korea in July, has returned to American custody with no concessions reportedly being made to Pyongyang for his release.
USA Today
King was handed over to a US official at the Chinese border and then flown to Osan Air Force Base in South Korea before departing for the US, where he is expected to be taken to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.
CNN
This comes hours after North Korea announced its decision to expel the Wisconsin native, claiming that he had confessed to illegally entering the country while under interrogation.
New York Post
The plan to bring him back home was swiftly formulated over the past few weeks as Swedish officials reportedly learned beforehand that Pyongyang wanted to release him, prompting diplomatic efforts to secure his safe passage home.
Politico
In a message shared by a representative for the family on social media, King's mother, Claudine Gates, expressed her gratitude to "the US Army and all its interagency partners" for "a job well done" while requesting privacy for the family.
CBS News
A celebratory homecoming that has followed the liberation of other American detainees, however, is very unlikely as King has been declared absent without leave from the Army and faces possible military jail time, forfeiture of pay, or a dishonorable discharge.
The Associated Press

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The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

The return of this troubled young soldier is an outright diplomatic victory for the US. With the support of Sweden to solve this issue, Washington has successfully found a way to bring King back home in good health and good spirits without making a single concession to Pyongyang.

The Messenger

Establishment-critical narrative

Though the US may boast its diplomatic efforts to release King from North Korean custody in its latest propaganda stunt, the plain truth is that the US soldier who illegally crossed the Korean border is only returning home now because Pyongyang has decided to expel him after the investigation into this incident was concluded.

KCNA