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U.S. officials said Thursday that they had no information on the whereabouts or condition of an Army soldier who crossed into North Korea without authorization and had not spoken to North Korean authorities about the incident. The soldier, Pvt. Travis T. King, was supposed to fly to Texas on Tuesday to face disciplinary actions for misconduct. But instead of boarding his flight at the international airport in Incheon, about 30 miles west of Seoul, he joined a civilian group that went to tour the joint security area between North and South Korea at Panmunjom, where he ran across the border and was taken into custody by North Korean forces. John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said the administration is “doing everything we can” to determine the soldier’s condition and “making it clear that we want to see him safely and quickly returned to the United States and to his family.”But winning Private King’s release — and learning about his status — is greatly complicated by a deep diplomatic freeze between the United States and North Korea, which technically remain at war.

Persons: Travis T, John Kirby Organizations: Army, North, National Security Council Locations: North Korea, Texas, Incheon, Seoul, North, South Korea, Panmunjom, North Korean, United States

North Korea's state media, which in the past reported on the detention of U.S. nationals, have also not commented on the incident so far. "I don't think anyone who was sane would want to go to North Korea, so I assumed it was some kind of stunt." State Department spokesman Miller said Sweden has been engaged as it acts as a diplomatic channel for Washington which remains technically at war with North Korea. North Korea has previously detained Americans who entered the country and put them on trial but eventually released them, often following high-level diplomatic intervention. A former North Korean diplomat who defected to South Korea said King may be used as a propaganda tool, but it was not clear how long North Korea would want to exploit his presence.

Persons: Kim Hong, Ji, Travis T, Matthew Miller, King, Sarah Leslie, Miller, Karine Jean, Pierre, Biden, Otto Warmbier, hyang Choi, Phil Smith, Steve Holland, Jack Kim, Ed Davies, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, State Department, Pentagon, Korean People's Army, North, Joint Security Area, New Zealand, Reuters, . State, U.S, United Nations Command, Thomson Locations: Panmunjom, South Korea, U.S, Sweden, North Korea, SEOUL, WASHINGTON, Washington, Pyongyang, North, United States, New, Korea, Korean, Seoul

[1/3] Foreign tourists participating in DMZ tour walk past a military fence near the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, in Paju, South Korea July 19, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Hong-JiPAJU, South Korea, July 19 (Reuters) - Only hours after U.S. Most infamously, axe-wielding North Korean soldiers in the DMZ in 1976 murdered two U.S. soldiers who were cutting down a tree to secure a clear view. In 2017, a North Korean soldier was riddled with bullets by his comrades, but ultimately survived as he made a dash into the South. He must have done it not knowing exactly what North Korea is like," Lee told Reuters at the observation point.

Persons: Kim Hong, Ji PAJU, Travis T, King, Felicia, Lee Sang, Lee, Soo, hyang Choi, Gyun Kim, Hongji Kim, Ed Davies, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Joint Security Area, South Korean, United Nations Command, UNC, ITC, North, American, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Paju, South Korea, North Korea, Korea, U.S, North Korean, Seoul, Minwoo

☆ Chaos as U.S. soldier Travis King bolted into North Korea -witness
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Ju-Min Park | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, July 19 (Reuters) - American and South Korean guards shouted "get him" as they scrambled unsuccessfully to stop U.S. Army soldier Travis King from sprinting into North Korea, a New Zealand woman who was on the same tour to the border area said on Wednesday. "I don't think anyone who was sane would want to go to North Korea, so I assumed it was some kind of stunt." The U.S. military was scrambling on Wednesday to determine King's fate after what officials said was a wilful, unauthorised crossing of the border into North Korea, throwing Washington into a new crisis in its dealings with the state. One American soldier shouted "get him," and other American and South Korean guards ran after King, but he was already on the north side of the border, Leslie said. "It was too late," she said, adding that he disappeared from sight and she didn't see him enter any buildings or be detained by North Korean guards.

Persons: Travis King, Sarah Leslie, King, Leslie, Travis T, Handout, REUTERS King, Hyunsu Yim, Josh Smith, Bernadette Baum Organizations: U.S, Army, Joint Security Area, Reuters, Security Area, REUTERS, North, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, North Korea, New Zealand, Washington, U.S, Panmunjom, South Korea, American

But while he cleared customs, he did not get on the plane as scheduled on Monday, US officials told CNN. Picture of Travis King, the US soldier who ran across the military demarcation line into North Korea on Tuesday July 18th. She said the administration was working with the government of South Korea, along with Sweden, on the matter. Sweden generally represents US interests in North Korea because the US and North Korea have no diplomatic ties. King’s mother, Claudine Gates, told ABC on Tuesday that she was “shocked” by the fact that King had crossed into North Korea.

Persons: Travis King, Fort, King, “, Sarah Leslie, ” Leslie, Travis T, Karine Jean, Pierre said, ”, King “, we’ve, Adm, John Aquilino, we’re, I’ve, Claudine Gates, Travis, ” Gates, Bryce Dubee Organizations: CNN, Airport, US Forces Korea, Joint Security, Facebook, Panmungak, Joint Security Area, North, Fort Bliss, Security Area, Reuters, Pacific Command, Aspen Security, Court, South, ABC, 6th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat, Armored Division, National Defense Service, Korean Defense, Overseas Service Locations: North Korea, Seoul, South Korea, Fort Bliss , Texas, North, North Korean, Fort, Panmunjom, Sweden, Mapo, Fort Bliss

An army official told CNN the private was set to be administratively separated from the US Army. Details about how exactly King ended up on the North Korean side of the border remain unclear. King’s mother, Claudine Gates, told ABC she was “shocked” after being told by the US Army that her son had crossed into North Korea. Travis King, the US soldier who ran across the military demarcation line into North Korea on Tuesday, July 18 Travis King/FacebookThe US has been actively reaching out to North Korea to resolve the situation, but it has not yet heard back, a defense official said Wednesday. South Korean police told CNN that King was transferred to US military police after an investigation into an assault last September.

Persons: hasn’t, Travis King, King, Claudine Gates, ”, Travis, ” Gates, he’d, John Aquilino, Aquilino, King “, we’ve, ” Aquilino, CNN King, Jeon Heon Organizations: Seoul CNN, CNN, US Army, ABC, Pacific Command, Aspen Security, Joint Security, North, Defense Department, Korean, Reuters, King . Locations: Seoul, North Korea, Fort Bliss, South Korea, Mapo, Korea

North Korea's state media has made no mention of the incident. North Korea has been testing increasingly powerful missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, including a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile last week. Forces Korea, said the military was "working with our KPA counterparts to resolve this incident," referring to North Korea's People's Army. NORTH KOREA FIRES MISSILESThe soldier was on a tour of the Panmunjom truce village with other visitors when he crossed a Military Demarcation Line, U.S. officials say. The launch came hours after the South Korea and the United States held the first round of talks on Tuesday on upgrading coordination in the event of a nuclear war with North Korea.

Persons: Travis T, King, Lloyd Austin, Austin, Isaac Taylor, Taylor, Kim Hong, Panmunjom, Tae Yong, Josh Smith, Hyonhee Shin, hyang Choi, David Brunnstrom, Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Kiyoshi Takenaka, Nobuhiro Kubo, Jack Kim, Lincoln Organizations: U.S, The U.S . Army, Security Area, U.S . Defence, United Nations, U.S . Forces, Korea's People's Army, Command, UNC, North Koreans, KOREA, REUTERS, Ji, U.S ., Korea's Unification Ministry, South, United, Thomson Locations: North North Korea, Pyongyang, U.S, South Korea, WASHINGTON, American, North Korea, Washington, The, New York, U.S . Forces Korea, Paju, Ji U.S, United States, Korean, Korea's, Seoul, Tokyo

☆ This is the moment just before a US soldier on a tour group made a mad, chaotic dash into North Korea
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A photo shows the moment just before US Army soldier Travis King bolted into North Korea. King had joined in on a civilian tour in South Korea before he made a mad dash over the border into the communist country. US officials now believe that King is in North Korean custody. King — who's now thought to be in North Korean custody — "willfully and without authorization" crossed from South Korea over the heavily fortified border into North Korea, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said. "This man gives out a loud 'ha ha ha,' and just runs in between some buildings," a witness on the tour told CBS News.

Persons: Travis King, King, Sarah Leslie, King — who's, —, Defense Lloyd Austin, Leslie Organizations: US Army, Service, Associated Press, Reuters, Joint Security, Defense, CBS News Locations: North Korea, South Korea, North, Wall, Silicon, Panmunjom

☆ A tourist thought a US soldier's mad dash into North Korea was so 'stupid' it had to be a TikTok prank until the guards started shouting 'get that guy'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A woman who saw a US soldier run into North Korea from South Korea said she thought it was a prank. Sarah Leslie told the AP that soldier Travis King's stunt was "the most stupid thing you could do." King is believed to be in North Korean custody after he crossed a border into the country. King, who is now believed to be in North Korean custody, "willfully and without authorization" crossed from South Korea over the heavily fortified border into North Korea, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said. "I probably only saw him running for like a few seconds and that's all it would have taken to get across the board," Leslie told Reuters.

Persons: Sarah Leslie, Travis King's, Travis King, Leslie, King, Defense Lloyd Austin Organizations: Service, Army, Associated Press, Defense, Joint Security Area Locations: North Korea, South Korea, North, Wall, Silicon, New Zealand

☆ What do we know about the US solider in North Korea?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Seoul, South Korea CNN —For the first time in decades a US soldier is believed to be in North Korean custody. The US Army has identified the soldier who crossed the demarcation line into North Korea on Tuesday as Pvt. The last American known to be held by North Korea was Bruce Byron Lowrance, who, according to North Korean state-run media, crossed from China into North Korea. While in North Korea, he appeared in propaganda films, taught North Korean spies English and spent up to eight hours a day studying the writings of North Korean leaders. He was allowed to leave North Korea in 2004, two years after his wife, a Japanese national who was kidnapped from her home in Japan in 1978, was allowed to leave North Korea under a deal between Pyongyang and Tokyo.

Persons: Travis King, King “, ”, “, Isaac Taylor, King, Bryce Dubee, Donald Trump, Kim Jong Un, Trump, Bruce Byron Lowrance, Lowrance, Otto Warmbier, Warmbier, Charles Jenkins, Jenkins Organizations: South Korea CNN —, US Army, Joint Security, Democratic, Korean People’s Army, ” US Forces, 6th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat, Armored Division, Joint Security Area, US Navy, Swedish Embassy, Pyongyang, United Nations Command, Central Intelligence Agency, US, North Locations: Seoul, South Korea, North, United States, Korea, Pyongyang, North Korea, Korean, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, ” US Forces Korea, Fort Bliss , Texas, South, Washington, Busan, Japan, Swedish, China, American, Tokyo

☆ Private Travis T. King: what do we know about the U.S. soldier who crossed to North Korea?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/4] A North Korean soldier stands guard at their guard post in this picture taken near the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, in Paju, South Korea July 19, 2023. Private Travis T. King, who joined the U.S. Army in January 2021, is a Cavalry Scout with the Korean Rotational Force, which is part of the U.S. security commitment to South Korea. WHY DID HE CROSS TO NORTH KOREA AND WHERE IS HE NOW? His mother, Claudine Gates, told ABC News she was shocked at the news her son had crossed into North Korea. U.S. officials say King is likely to be in North Korean custody.

Persons: Kim Hong, Ji, Travis T, TRAVIS, King, expletives, Sarah Leslie, Handout, Claudine Gates, Travis, 1,265.8500, Crystal Chesters, Edmund Blair Organizations: REUTERS, WHO, U.S . Army, Korean, Force, U.S . 1st Armored Division, 4th Infantry Division, National Defense Service, Korean Defense, Overseas Service, Court, Security Area, U.S, The Korea Times, ABC News, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Korean, Paju, South Korea, United States, U.S, North Korea, Washington, Pyongyang, Seoul, Panmunjom, New Zealand, North, New York

☆ For North Korea, US defectors can be a propaganda win, but a logistical pain
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Josh Smith | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Analysts said discussions over the soldier's fate could see some of the first diplomatic engagement between North Korea and the United States in years. "I do not think North Korea views the latest incident as strong leverage or an opportunity to engage the U.S.," she said. "North Korea knows that the U.S. government is unlikely to change its North Korea policy or its commitment to U.S. extended deterrence because of one U.S. soldier who reportedly faced disciplinary action and wilfully crossed into North Korea." "Their conditions are better not only than the average North Korean prisoner, but of the average North Korean citizen." North Korean border guards fatally shot and burned the body of a South Korean fisheries official in 2020, and later leader Kim Jong Un ordered an entire city into lockdown when a North Korean crossed back into the country from the South.

Persons: Travis King, King, Andrei Lankov, Rachel Minyoung Lee, Tae Yong, Tae, Lankov, Otto Warmbier, Kim Jong Un, Josh Smith, David Brunnstrom, Hyonhee, Angus MacSwan Organizations: U.S, Army, Security Area, North, Korea Risk, Stimson, Korean, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, North Korea, U.S, North Korean, Pyongyang, ., United States, Seoul, Korea, Korea's, American, Korean, Washington

She was among some 40 other tourists who were walking around and taking photos in the moments before King made a dash to North Korea. "I don't think anyone who was sane would want to go to North Korea, so I assumed it was some kind of stunt," she told Reuters. North Korea is likely to milk the border crossing by a U.S. soldier for propaganda purposes but will probably not be able to gain political leverage, analysts and a former North Korean diplomat said. The notable exception was U.S. college student Otto Warmbier, who died in 2017 shortly after being released from a North Korea prison. Still, analysts suggested that King's stay in North Korea could be lengthy.

Persons: Travis T, King, Carl Gates, Gates, Travis, Sarah Leslie, Leslie, Tae Yong, Andrei Lankov, Otto Warmbier, Lankov, It's, Victor Cha, Josh Smith, Matt Spetalnick, Don Durfee, Sandra Maler Organizations: U.S . Army, The Korea Times, U.S, Cavalry, Korean, Force, National Defense Service, Korean Defense, Overseas Service, Daily, Joint Security Area, Reuters, South, Korea Risk Group, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, WASHINGTON, South Korea, Washington, North, Seoul, Fort Bliss , Texas, North Korea, Racine , Wisconsin, New Zealander, U.S, North Korean, Korea, Korean, Korea's, Pyongyang

Seoul, South Korea CNN —A US national is believed to be in North Korean custody after crossing the border during a tour, a United Nations agency said Tuesday. The individual was detained during a Joint Security Area tour after crossing the Military Demarcation Line separating North and South Korea, the United Nations Command said in a tweet. The prospect of a US national being held in North Korean military custody comes at a time of fraught diplomacy and rising military tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Under leader Kim Jong Un, North Korea has been ramping up tests of potentially nuclear capable intercontinental ballistic missiles, something South Korea and its treaty ally the United States are keen to push back on. The NCG is a joint US and South Korean panel set up by the countries’ leaders at a summit in Washington in April.

Persons: “, Donald Trump, Kim Jong Un, Kurt Campbell, Joe Biden, Yoon Suk Yeol Organizations: South Korea CNN, United, Security, United Nations Command, U.S, National, Democratic People’s, UNC, Joint Security, North, CNN, Busan –, US National Security Council, Nuclear Consultative, South Korean Locations: Seoul, South Korea, North, United Nations, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, DPRK, South, North Korea, United States, Busan, Washington, Pyongyang

☆ U.S. national crosses into North Korea, likely held in custody
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

South Korea's Dong-a Ilbo daily, citing South Korea's army, identified the person as Travis King, a U.S. army soldier with the rank of private second class. "We believe he is currently in DPRK custody and are working with our KPA counterparts to resolve this incident," it added, referring to North Korea's People's Army. North Korea has been testing increasingly powerful missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, including a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launched last week. U.S. State Department travel advisory bans U.S. nationals from entering North Korea "due to the continuing serious risk of arrest and long term detention of U.S. He died in 2017, days after he was released from North Korea and returned to the United States in a coma.

Persons: Travis King, Isaac Taylor, USFK, We're, Otto Warmbier, Hyonhee Shin, hyang Choi, Josh Smith, Jack Kim, Andrew Heavens, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: U.S, United Nations Command, Joint Security Area, National, Democratic People's, . Command, UNC, Twitter, Korea's People's Army, Command, U.S . Army, Reuters, U.S . State Department, Pentagon, Korea's Defence Ministry, North, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, North Korea, Korea's, South, U.S, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK, South Korea, United States

☆ Factbox: Site of US national's crossing into North Korea has history of diplomatic, military drama
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Most infamously, axe-wielding North Korean soldiers in the DMZ in 1976 murdered two U.S. soldiers who were cutting down a poplar tree to secure a clear view. In 2017, a North Korean soldier was riddled with bullets by his comrades but ultimately survived as he made dash into the South. Following are some facts about the 250 km-long DMZ, which separates North and South Korea. - It is 60 km (37 miles) from Seoul and 210 km (130 miles) from the North Korean capital of Pyongyang. - South Korea estimates the North operates about 160 guard posts along the DMZ and the South has 60.

Persons: U.N, Josh Smith, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: U.S, Joint Security Area, North, North Korea, Command, North Korean, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, North Korea, North Korean, North, South Korea, China, United States, Seoul, Korean, Pyongyang, Panmunjom, Korea, Geneva

☆ North Korea Detains U.S. Citizen After Unauthorized Border Crossing
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Choe Sang-Hun | More About Choe Sang-Hun | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

An American citizen who crossed into North Korea without authorization on Tuesday has been taken into custody by North Korean authorities, the American-led United Nations Command said. The American national crossed into North Korea during a tour of Panmunjom, or the Joint Security Area, which straddles the inter-Korean border, becoming the latest United States citizen to be detained by the isolated Communist country. The U.N. Command said in a statement that it was working with the North Korean military “to resolve this incident” but gave no further information. Both the U.N. Command and the North Korean People’s Army keep duty officers at Panmunjom, the sole point of contact on the 155-mile-long Demilitarized Zone that separates the two Koreas.

Organizations: North, United Nations Command, American, Joint Security, United, Command, North Korean, Korean People’s Army Locations: American, North Korea, United States, Panmunjom

☆ U.S. national being held in North Korea after crossing border, UN says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A U.S. national may be in North Korean custody after crossing the inter-Korean border without authorization, the U.N. Command said on Twitter Tuesday. The person was touring the Joint Security Area — a site at Panmunjeom in the Demilitarized Zone used by North and South Korea for diplomatic engagements and negotiations. The U.S. and North Korea do not currently have formal diplomatic relations. An U.S. travel advisory note urges U.S. nationals not to travel to North Korea "due to the continuing serious risk of arrest and long-term detention." The incident takes place on the same day as a U.S. nuclear submarine visited South Korea for the first time since the 1980s, arriving at the port of Busan, according to the U.S. forces in South Korea.

Organizations: U.S, Command, Twitter, National, Democratic People's, U.S ., NBC News, White Locations: North, Panmunjeom, South Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK, U.S, North Korea, An U.S, Busan

☆ A US tourist crossed the border into North Korea, UN says. South Korean media reports he's a US soldier.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A US national crossed the border from South Korea into North Korea on Tuesday, the UN said. South Korean media is reporting that he was a US soldier. South Korean media has described it as a defection, though it is currently unclear if this is the case. Cases of Americans or South Koreans defecting to North Korea are extremely rare, while North Koreans crossing into South Korea are more common. More than 30,000 North Koreans have fled south since the 1950-1953 Korean War, according to the Associated Press.

Persons: Travis King Organizations: UN, Service, United Nations, The United Nations Command, Security Area, — United Nations Command, The Korea Herald, Ilbo, US Army, South, US Department of State, Associated Press Locations: South Korea, North Korea, US, North, Wall, Silicon, Seoul, South Korea's

☆ US soldier laughed as he ran across the DMZ in North Korea, witness says, and was reportedly in trouble with the military
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A US soldier crossed the border from South Korea into North Korea on Tuesday. The soldier, identified as Travis King, was also in trouble with the US military, according to reports. The soldier, initially identified as a junior enlisted named Travis King, was also in trouble with the US military, according to reports. US officials told CBS News that the soldier was being flown back to the US from South Korea for disciplinary reasons. The Washington Post reported that the soldier was punished for some kind of misconduct while serving in South Korea.

Persons: Travis King, didn't, Defense Lloyd Austin, Austin Organizations: Service, Army, CBS News, Military, Reuters, Washington Post, Washington, US State Department, Department of Defense, Defense Department, Pentagon, Defense, United Nations Command, Security Area, UN Command, Korean People's Army Locations: South Korea, North Korea, Wall, Silicon

☆ North Korea launches long-range missile toward sea after making threat over alleged U.S. spy flights
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

North Korea launched a long-range ballistic missile toward its eastern waters Wednesday, its neighbors said, two days after the North threatened "shocking" consequences to protest what it called a provocative U.S. reconnaissance activity near its territory. South Korea's military detected the long-range missile launch from the North's capital region around 10 a.m., the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. It said South Korea's military bolstered its surveillance posture and maintained readiness in close coordination with the United States. North Korea's long-range missile program targets the mainland U.S. Some experts say North Korea still has some technologies to master to possess functioning nuclear-armed ICBMs.

Persons: Kim Jong, Donald Trump, Yasukazu Hamada, Hamada Organizations: Joint Security, South's, Chiefs, Staff, Japanese Defense, Korean Locations: North, South Korea, Panmunjom, North Korea, South, United States, Korea, Korean, U.S

CNN —It’s a city at the forefront of modern culture. CNNYouTube sensation Jaejae is perhaps the best-qualified person in Seoul to help understand this phenomenon and how it has come to pass. It is here where US and South Korean forces maintain a major base and where former US President Donald Trump met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in 2019. Yet the worries that arise from it continue to dominate Korean life, with missile tests and the threat of war never feeling that far away. This patriotism, combined with pride in all things K-Pop, K-Drama and Newtro all go towards making Seoul a city like no other.

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