North Korean authorities have chosen to expel Travis King, a US soldier who sought refuge in North Korea earlier this summer, who alleged racial discrimination and inhumane treatment within the American army. This news has been confirmed by both Washington and state-run media, stating that King is now under US custody and reportedly in good health and spirits.

King’s intrusion into North Korean territory near the village of Panmunjom sparked investigation and conversations between Washington and Pyongyang about his release. North Korea reports suggest that King confessed to harboring resentment against what he perceived as maltreatment and racial discrimination within the U.S. Army and disillusionment with unequal U.S. society. Following the investigation, North Korean officials, abiding by the laws of the Republic, decided to expel him, despite his explicit desire to seek refuge there.

King, a 23-year-old private, is reported to have willfully crossed the demarcation line between North and South Korea, following charges of assault in South Korea. Details emerge of King’s attempt to defect across the Armistice Line after bypassing his transport back to the US by mingling with a group of tourists near the demilitarized zone.

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