US Soldier in North Korean Custody Faces Disciplinary Action for Assault

The ‌U.S. ‍Soldier Detained‌ in North​ Korea

The​ U.S. ⁢soldier currently detained‌ in⁢ North⁣ Korea‍ after crossing into the communist nation​ at⁢ the DMZ line ​was‌ facing​ disciplinary action for ⁢alleged ‍assault, according to military‌ officials.

The‌ soldier,‍ identified⁤ as 23-year-old​ Travis⁣ King, ⁢willingly crossed ⁤the border⁣ into North ​Korea,‌ according​ to⁤ Pentagon⁤ officials. ‌King had reportedly ⁢been disciplined ⁣for​ assault ⁤in⁤ South ⁤Korea and was facing ⁢further⁣ disciplinary action in ⁢the ⁣U.S.

King⁢ was ⁤involved ⁢in at least ​two ⁤separate episodes⁤ where ⁣Korean‍ police were brought in ⁣to intervene, including ⁣incidents‌ in⁤ September⁣ and October‍ 2022.

In​ September,‍ King​ had⁣ a‌ case settled ⁣after ‍he‍ was accused⁢ of punching ⁢a man⁤ in the⁣ face at a South ⁢Korean club. ​The ​following⁢ month, he was⁣ accused of‌ acting ⁣aggressively toward ‌police ⁢officers responding to a ‍call‌ about a fight,​ court‌ documents⁣ obtained ⁣by ⁣Reuters show.

Travis​ King ‍got into fights,⁢ damaged ⁢police ⁤car before ​running ⁣to North ​Korea https://t.co/OCV7IBO7q6 pic.twitter.com/2IhOfx8qx4

—​ New ⁤York Post⁣ (@nypost) ​July ⁢19, ⁢2023

The ​Korean‍ court⁢ said⁣ that⁣ King ‌then ⁤shouted⁤ expletives aimed‍ at⁢ police and Koreans and ‍damaged ⁣the​ police⁣ car‍ when he⁢ was‌ taken​ in⁢ for ‍questioning. ⁣In​ the aftermath,‌ King reportedly‌ paid‍ to⁣ repair the‍ vehicle ⁢and ‌was ‍fined $4,000 ‍by ⁤the‍ Seoul Western District‌ Court in​ February ⁢after⁤ he ⁤pleaded⁤ guilty​ to assault ​and ⁣destruction of public goods.

He spent ⁣almost two ⁣months in ⁣detention ‍for ‌the​ assault ‌charge, ​according⁢ to ‌The Associated⁢ Press. The news ​agency reported that he⁤ had been released ⁣on July ⁣10. ‍Officials‍ have ​said that King was⁢ going to be⁤ sent back to America before he ‌crossed into⁢ North Korea.

“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,”⁢ U.S. ‌Forces ⁤Korea⁣ spokesperson⁤ Col. ‍Isaac⁤ Taylor ‌said, adding that ⁤the‌ entry ⁢into North Korea was ​done ⁢“willfully ⁢and‌ without authorization.”

One ​witness​ said​ that‌ King ​ran ⁤across the border⁤ yelling ⁤“ha-ha-ha,” according ​to ⁢The ⁤New York ⁤Post.

“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,”​ a⁢ New ⁣Zealand tourist ​named ​Leslie​ told the AP.⁣ “But ‍then⁤ I ‍heard one‌ of ⁤the‍ soldiers⁢ shout,​ ‘Get that guy.’”

The‍ detention ‌comes ⁢just ⁤days‌ after ⁣the ​U.S.⁤ sent the ​USS​ Kentucky ⁢to ⁢South Korea,⁤ the ⁣first‌ time a nuclear-armed ⁣submarine ⁢had been‍ sent ⁣to the ​area ⁢in‌ more ‌than 30 ⁣years.

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