16th August, 2023
North Korea has spoken for the first time on U.S. soldier Travis King who defected to the country on 18 July, from South Korea.
North Korea state media reported Wednesday that King wants refuge there or elsewhere because of “inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination” in the U.S. and the military.
It was the North’s first public acknowledgement of the army private’s crossing from South Korea on July 18 while on a civilian tour of the Joint Security Area (JSA) on the heavily fortified border between the neighbours.
U.S. officials have said they believe King crossed the border intentionally, and have declined so far to classify him as a prisoner of war.
North Korean investigators have also concluded that King crossed deliberately and illegally, with the intent to stay in the North or in a third country, state news agency KCNA said.
“During the investigation, Travis King confessed that he had decided to come over to the DPRK as he harboured ill feeling against inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination within the U.S. Army,” KCNA said, using the North’s official name.
“He also expressed his willingness to seek refugee in the DPRK or a third country, saying that he was disillusioned at the unequal American society.”
King was “kept under control by soldiers of the Korean People’s Army” after his crossing and the investigation was still active, the agency added.
In August, King’s uncle, Myron Gates, told ABC News that his nephew, who is Black, was experiencing racism during his military deployment, and that after he spent time in a South Korean jail, he did not sound like himself.
The KCNA report comes as North Korean officials cite racism and other social problems in America to push back against U.S. criticism, including a United Nations Security Council meeting to discuss human rights in North Korea on Thursday.
U.S. officials have said the North had not provided substantive responses to requests for information on King.
The Pentagon said it could not verify King’s comments as reported by KCNA, and remains focused on his safe return. It did not address whether it had heard more details from North Korea.
King’s mother is concerned about his safety and appealed to North Korea to treat him humanely, a spokesperson for his family said.
“Ms. Gates is aware of today’s ‘report’ from KCNA,” the spokesperson, Jonathan Franks said in a statement, referring to King’s mother. “DPRK authorities are responsible for Travis King’s well-being, and she continues to appeal to them to treat him humanely”
It added that King’s mother had been in touch with the Army and appreciated a statement by the U.S. Department of Defense that it remained focused on bringing him home.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.