A U.S. soldier who entered North Korea across a strongly fortified border between the Koreas in July would be expelled, as announced on Wednesday by the country.
According to the official Korean Central News Agency of the North, Pvt. Travis King has been thoroughly interrogated by the authorities. He admitted to entering the North illegally, according to the report, due to his “resentment towards inhumane treatment and racial discrimination” within the U.S. Army and his “disillusionment with the unfair nature of American society.”
Although the statement attributed to King is not yet confirmed to be true, the agency made no mention of his intended removal date or destination.
King was meant to be travelling to Fort Bliss, Texas, after being released from prison in South Korea for an assault conviction, but on July 18, he sprinted into North Korea while on a civilian tour of a border village.
Travis King is the first confirmed American to have been imprisoned in the North in almost five years.