US soldier believed to be detained by North Korea after ‘willfully’ crossing border

US soldier believed to be detained by North Korea after ‘willfully’ crossing border

Quote:

Seoul, South Korea CNN — A US soldier who crossed the demarcation line into North Korea had been facing disciplinary action by the US military and was set to be sent back to the United States, according to a US defense official. The service member is a junior enlisted soldier who was assigned to US Forces Korea, the official said, adding that he had been on the Joint Security Area (JSA) tour as a civilian. US Forces Korea spokesperson Col. Isaac Taylor said on Tuesday that a US soldier “willfully and without authorization” crossed the line during a JSA tour. “We believe he is currently in [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] custody and are working with our [Korean People’s Army] counterparts to resolve this incident,” Taylor said in a statement. There was no indication the soldier was trying to defect, a separate US official said.

The BBC has more information:

Quote:

The soldier who crossed into North Korea is Private 2nd Class Travis King, officials have told the BBC's US partner CBS News As we previously reported, an official told CBS the soldier was being escorted out of the country for disciplinary reasons and had gone through airport security, but managed to make his way out of the terminal before joining a border tour. A third source, a defence official, later told CBS that the soldier had "wilfully" gone across the border. His motivation remains unclear. Officials are waiting to confirm his identity until his next of kin have been notified that he is being held by North Korea, CNN reports

This idiot had no idea what he's getting himself into. He might not come back alive.

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