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North Korea says border-crossing soldier Travis King wants refuge from mistreatment in US Army
- The American private has confessed to illegally intruding, state media reported, and wants to stay in the North or a third country
- King cited maltreatment and ‘racial discrimination within the US Army’ as reasons for dashing across the border, the report said
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North Korea has concluded that US soldier Travis King wants refuge there or elsewhere because of “inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination” in the US and the military, state media said on Wednesday.
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It was the North’s first public acknowledgement of the army private’s crossing from South Korea on July 18 while on a civilian tour of the Joint Security Area (JSA) on the heavily fortified border between the neighbours.
US officials have said they believe King crossed the border intentionally, and have declined so far to classify him as a prisoner of war.
North Korean investigators have also concluded that King crossed deliberately and illegally, with the intent to stay in the North or in a third country, state news agency KCNA said.
02:04
North Korea confirms detention of US soldier who bolted across border from South Korea
North Korea confirms detention of US soldier who bolted across border from South Korea
“During the investigation, Travis King confessed that he had decided to come over to the DPRK as he harboured ill feeling against inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination within the US Army,” KCNA reported, using the initials of North Korea’s official name.
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