U.S. soldier believed to be in North Korean custody after unauthorized border crossing, officials say
World,Asia,North Korea,South Korea
A U.S. soldier crossed into North Korea "willfully and without authorization" and was believed to be in the custody of the country's forces, U.S. and international officials said Tuesday. The United Nations Command, which operates the Joint Security Area (JSA) within the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea, first confirmed that an unidentified U.S. national had crossed the border.
U.S. officials told CBS News the soldier in question was Private 2nd Class Travis King, who had been released from military detention in South Korea and was being escorted out of the country for disciplinary reasons. After going through airport security to leave, he somehow returned and managed to join a border tour group before crossing into North Korea, the officials said.
"A U.S. National on a JSA orientation tour crossed, without authorization, the Military Demarcation Line into the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)," U.N. Command said in its earlier statement, using the formal name for North Korea. "We believe he is currently in DPRK custody and are working with our KPA [North Korean army] counterparts to resolve this incident."
