Global Courant
SHORT ANSWER
Washington says the return of US Army Private Travis King does not represent a diplomatic breakthrough with Pyongyang.
Washington, DC – After more than two months in North Korean custody, American soldier Travis King is returning to the United States, ending a saga that would further inflame tensions between Washington and Pyongyang.
U.S. officials on Wednesday thanked Sweden and China for facilitating King’s release, but stressed that the move does not represent a diplomatic breakthrough with North Korea.
King spent weeks in jail in South Korea earlier this year for assault before crossing the border into North Korea in July.
Here’s what you need to know.
Who is king?
King, a 23-year-old soldier from southeastern Wisconsin, joined the U.S. Army in 2021.
In a conversation with American media, relatives described him as nice and calm.
But family members told The Associated Press earlier this year that his mental health took a turn for the worse after the death of his 7-year-old nephew in February.
How did he end up in North Korea?
King was scheduled to fly from Seoul to Texas after his release from prison in July.
But he left the airport and days later joined a civilian group of tourists in the South Korean border village of Panmunjom. On July 18, he encountered North Korea through the demilitarized zone that separates the two countries.
Why did North Korea release him?
North Korea said on Wednesday through its official news agency KCNA that it has “decided to deport King, who is black,” after completing an investigation into his entry into the country.
“King admitted that he illegally entered the territory of (North Korea) because he harbored ill feelings against inhumane mistreatment and racial discrimination within the U.S. military and was disillusioned with the unequal U.S. society,” the KCNA report said.
What did North Korea get for King’s release?
Nothing, US officials said. “We have made no concessions as part of securing his return,” U.S. State Department Matthew Miller told reporters on Wednesday.
How was he released?
Miller said King was transported across the border from North Korea to the Chinese city of Dandon, where he was met by U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns.
From there, he boarded a State Department plane to Shenyang, China, and was then transferred to a U.S. air base south of Seoul.
He was on his way to the US on Wednesday afternoon.
Will King be charged in the US?
That is unclear. The Pentagon could take disciplinary action and/or pursue criminal charges against King. So far the company has not made any announcements about this.
Will his release boost diplomacy between Washington and Pyongyang?
Not necessary. Miller said Washington is in favor of diplomacy with Pyongyang, but King’s release does not mean rapprochement.
There has been a recent spike in tensions due to increased military exercises between the US, South Korea and Japan, as well as North Korean missile tests.
The US has also warned North Korea against selling weapons to Russia over the war in Ukraine.
“I wouldn’t see this as a sign of a breakthrough. I think it’s a one-off,” Miller said of King’s release.
