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A U.S. soldier identified as Travis King, 23, is making headlines after dashing across one of the most heavily fortified borders in the world: the Korean Peninsula’s demilitarized zone (DMZ).
While King’s status is currently unclear, here’s the rundown on the situation.
According to AP News, the incident occurred on Tuesday (Jul. 18), and it went down after King was released from a two-month detainment in South Korea.
BBC News notes the soldier specifically had a history of getting into fights around Seoul, which ultimately landed him in custody. Upon being released earlier this month, he was briefly placed under military surveillance and slated to fly back to Fort Bliss, Texas.
However, while authorities transported him to Incheon International Airport, King blended into a group of 43 tourists visiting a village smack on the border between North and South Korea, AP News reports.
A New Zealand-based tourist named Sarah Leslie recalled seeing King suddenly begin running “really fast” toward North Korea, though she had no idea that he was being serious.
“I assumed initially he had a mate filming him in some kind of really stupid prank or stunt, like a TikTok, the most stupid thing you could do. But then I heard one of the soldiers shout, ‘Get that guy.’ … I just didn’t think anyone would ever want to do that.”
Despite the efforts of American and South Korean forces, Travis King swiftly made it into North Korea.
In response to the situation, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin noted that, while an investigation is ongoing, officials know Travis King “willfully and without authorization crossed the military demarcation line.”
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre added that the U.S. is currently “engaging with Sweden and South Korea” and working on “getting to the bottom of what happened.” She also declared that their “primary concern” is “ascertaining his well-being.”
As for the soldier’s family, his mother—Claudine Gates—told ABC News, “I can’t see Travis doing anything like that.” She also shared that she wants “him to come home.”
King’s grandfather, Carl Gates, expressed similar sentiments and questioned whether King was “in his right mind,” AP News reports.
“I think right now he might have a problem or something. I can’t see him doing that intentionally if he was in his right mind.”
While the status of the soldier is currently unclear, Yang Moo-jin—president of South Korea’s University of North Korean Studies—said North Korea will “likely” use Travis King “as a bargaining chip,” per AP News.
“It’s likely that North Korea will use the soldier for propaganda purposes in the short term and then as a bargaining chip.”
There are no further updates at this time.
