North Korea says Racine soldier Travis King wants refuge in North Korea due to 'unequal American society'

Drake Bentley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Updated ·2 min read
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The official state-run news agency of North Korea, KCNA, said Wednesday (Pyongyang time) that Travis King, a U.S. Army private, crossed over into the country because "he harbored ill feeling against inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination within the U.S. Army" and that "he was disillusioned at the unequal American society."

The Korean Central News Agency said King, a 2020 graduate of Park High School in Racine, admitted he illegally intruded into the country and wishes to seek refuge in North Korea or a third country.

King, 23, became the first American held in North Korea in nearly five years when he bolted across the border at the Demilitarized Zone on July 18. A day before, the U.S. Army private was supposed to travel to a base in the U.S.

A group of tourists stand near a border station at Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone in Paju, South Korea on July 18. Not long after this photo was taken, Travis King, a U.S. soldier, bolted across the border and became the first known American detained in the North in nearly five years.
A group of tourists stand near a border station at Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone in Paju, South Korea on July 18. Not long after this photo was taken, Travis King, a U.S. soldier, bolted across the border and became the first known American detained in the North in nearly five years.

He recently served time in a South Korean prison for assault and was scheduled to return to Fort Bliss, Texas, where he could have faced additional military discipline and discharge, but departed the airport before boarding his plane.

The United States, South Korea and others have accused North Korea of using foreign detainees to wrest diplomatic concessions. Some foreign detainees have said after their releases that their declarations of guilt while in North Korean custody were made under coercion. It’s virtually impossible to confirm the authenticity of King’s comments reported in North Korea’s state media and it is likely that King had no say in the crafting of the message.

In a statement released through spokesperson John Franks, the King family said, "Ms. Gates (Travis' mother) is aware of today's 'report' from KCNA. DPRK authorities are responsible for Travis' well-being, and she continues to appeal to them to treat him humanely. She's worried about her son and would be grateful for a phone call from him.

"Lastly, she has been in touch with the Army this evening and appreciates DoD's statement that it remains focused on bringing Travis home."

Contributing: The Associated Press

Drake Bentley can be reached at DBentley1@gannett.com.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: State media says Travis King wishes to remain in North Korea