Here is what we know about Pvt. Travis T. King, the U.S. soldier who is believed to be in North Korean custody after “willfully” crossing the border …
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00:00A U.S. soldier is currently in North Korean custody after willfully crossing the border.
00:04Before crossing, 23-year-old Private Travis T. King had been released from a South Korean prison
00:10where he was being held after being charged with assault. Upon his release from prison,
00:14he was set to return to Fort Bliss, Texas to face disciplinary actions,
00:19but instead of boarding his flight, he joined a tour of the JSA,
00:23which is the most recognized area along the demilitarized zone.
00:26King, who joined the military in January 2021 and was serving as cavalry scout for the Army,
00:32then broke off from the tour and crossed into North Korea without authorization.
00:37He was then detained by North Korean authorities, according to U.S. officials.
00:40It's still unclear how King joined the tour, what led him to cross the border,
00:45or if it was his plan to defect from the U.S., but Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin
00:50said he is concerned about the welfare of our troop.
00:52North Korea has yet to offer an official statement on the incident.
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