The American soldier Entered last month North Korea North Korea’s official press reported on Tuesday (Aug 15) that he had admitted to illegal entry and expressed his willingness to seek asylum in the country or in a third country. These are the first comments from Pyongyang on the matter.
Travis King was due to return to the US after running into trouble with South Korean justice, but he actually crossed the border into the North on July 18 to join tourists visiting the demilitarized zone that separates the two Koreas.
“According to an investigation by the DPRK’s competent agency (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, editor’s note), Travis King admitted to illegally entering DPRK territory,” KCNA reported, using North Korea’s official name.
According to the official KCNA news agency, Travis King said he decided to enter North Korea because of “inhumane treatment and racial discrimination within the US military.” Travis King was taken into custody by Korean People’s Army soldiers after he “deliberately entered” North Korean territory, confirming the military’s custody for the first time.
“Disappointment in an Unequal American Society”
Travis King “expressed his desire to seek asylum in the DPRK or a third country, saying he was disillusioned with the unequal American society”, KCNA reiterated, noting that the regime’s investigation was still ongoing.
The pentagon On Tuesday, North Korean media said they could not verify comments attributed to Travis King. “We are focused (on ensuring his safe return). The department’s priority is to bring Private King home, and we are using all available means to achieve that,” a Pentagon spokesman said.
North Korea’s first official comment on Private King was pure propaganda, former CIA analyst Soo Kim, an expert in political practice at LMI Consulting, told AFP.
“Promotional Opportunity”
“King’s work in North Korea provided the Kim regime with a number of entry points, the first opening, of course, to possible negotiations with the United States for King’s release,” he said. He pointed out that the North Koreans are “tough”. Negotiators”.
“This is an opportunity for the regime’s propaganda to turn the tide by criticizing the US and expressing Pyongyang’s deep hostility towards Washington,” he added.
With Reuters and AFP
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