Defected soldier Travis King back in US after expulsion from DPRK
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The soldier is to be taken to the Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas, which happens to be the same place where American basketball star Brittney Griner was evaluated after being released by Russia.
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A TV screen showing US soldier Travis King's photo during a news program in Seoul, South Korea on September 28, 2023. (AP)
An official of the US Defense Department confirmed to AFP on Thursday that American soldier Travis King is now back in the United States after being released by the DPRK.
"I can confirm that he has landed in the US," the official said.
According to a US official previously, the soldier would be taken to the Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas when he returns, which happens to be the same place where American basketball star Brittney Griner was evaluated after being released by Russia.
Following a drunken pub fight, his stay in South Korean jail led the Private Second Class soldier to be taken to the airport in July to go back to Texas, but instead of going to attend his disciplinary hearings, he snuck on a Demilitarized Zone sightseeing trip and slipped across the border.
Last month, the DPRK said King defected to escape "mistreatment and racial discrimination in the US Army," but after investigations, it "decided to expel Travis King, a soldier of the US Army who illegally intruded into the territory of the DPRK, under the law of the Republic," as per the Korean Central News Agency on Wednesday.
The #US Army has identified the soldier who crossed the demarcation line into #NorthKorea as Private (#Pvt) #TravisKing on Tuesday.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) July 20, 2023
Here's what you need to know about the issue so far. pic.twitter.com/NxIQ2aJjnu
China "played a role in facilitating that transfer, but did not play another mediating role in these events," an official said, adding that Sweden had helped transfer King to China, where he was released into US custody.
The official claimed that no concessions were given to the DPRK in exchange for King. According to the officials, the United States stands ready to have possible further diplomatic engagements with the DPRK.
On its part, the White House thanked Beijing for helping King to leave the DPRK through Chinese territory.
"We thank... the government of the People's Republic of China for its assistance in facilitating the transit of Private King," National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a statement.
