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