Travis King isn't the 1st U.S. soldier to enter North Korea. Here's a history
A U.S. soldier is reportedly being held in North Korea after bolting across the border, becoming the first American service member to do so in over four decades.
It is still unclear whether Pvt. 2nd Class Travis King intended to defect, though experts say a trip to the Demilitarized Zone takes days of planning. U.S. officials say he crossed "willfully and without authorization."
The 23-year-old had been stationed in South Korea, where he was recently imprisoned on assault charges, and was due to fly back to the U.S. to face military disciplinary action.
Instead, he ditched his escort at the airport and made his way to the Korean border village of Panmunjom, where he joined a tour — dressed in civilian clothes — and ran across the military demarcation line at the last stop.
"We believe he is currently in [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] custody and are working with our [Korean People's Army] counterparts to resolve this incident," U.S. Forces Korea spokesperson Col. Isaac Taylor said in a statement.
North Korean officials are likely interrogating and screening King to determine what to do with him, says historian Erik Scott, the author of.
