‘He was going so fast’: US officials try to piece together why soldier bolted into North Korea on 20 July

He was going so fast’: US officials try to piece together why soldier bolted into North Korea on 20 July

Just one day before attempting to cross into North Korea, Private Travis King sent a text message to his US military handlers, informing them that he had arrived at his gate at Incheon Airport in Seoul and was preparing to board a plane back to the United States.

Private Travis King was a junior enlisted soldier assigned to US Forces Korea. Prior to his departure, he had been facing assault charges in South Korea. As a consequence of these charges, he was scheduled to be discharged from the US military upon his return to Fort Bliss, Texas.

The circumstances surrounding his attempt to cross into North Korea and the reasons behind his actions remain a matter of investigation and speculation. Crossing into North Korea from South Korea is an extremely dangerous and unauthorized act, and such an incident raised concerns and required immediate attention from the authorities.

According to US officials who spoke with CNN, Private Travis King cleared customs at Incheon Airport in Seoul as scheduled but did not board the plane back to the US on Monday. The escorts who were accompanying him were unable to verify whether he had actually boarded the flight because they were not allowed to accompany him all the way to the gate.

Instead, it was discovered that King had made arrangements for a tour with a private company to visit the Joint Security Area inside the demilitarized zone, which is the area that divides North and South Korea. The tour was scheduled for Tuesday, indicating that he had not left South Korea as planned.

Additionally, King had checked in for an American Airlines flight bound for Dallas, but he reported his passport as missing and did not board the flight.

The situation raised further concerns about King’s intentions and actions, given the sensitive nature of the demilitarized zone and his reported missing passport. Authorities were likely closely monitoring the situation to ensure his safety and the safety of others in the region.

According to an official at Incheon airport who spoke with CNN, Private Travis King successfully passed through all the security points up to the boarding gate. However, he informed the airline staff at the boarding gate that his passport was missing. As a result, the airline staff escorted him back outside to the departure side of the airport.

The American Airlines flight he was scheduled to board departed Incheon at 6:36 p.m. Afterward, King returned to the departure side of the airport at 7:02 p.m.

In such emergency situations where a passenger is unable to board a plane after completing the immigration process, they are required to reverse the procedure under the approval of the immigration office.

As of now, American Airlines has declined to provide any comments regarding the incident to CNN. The situation surrounding King’s actions and intentions continues to raise concerns, and authorities are likely monitoring the situation closely to ensure appropriate actions are taken in response to the incident.

On the tour inside the demilitarized zone the following day, Private Travis King took an unexpected and puzzling action. Witnesses on the same tour and US officials familiar with the case reported to CNN that King made a sudden dash across the demarcation line, crossing into North Korea. This act was highly unusual and unexpected, given the heavily fortified nature of the zone.

Unlike most parts of the demilitarized zone, the area where King made his attempt to enter North Korea, known as the Joint Security Area (JSA), does not have a physical barrier separating the two countries.

At first, King tried to enter Panmungak Hall, a North Korean facility within the JSA. However, he found the front door locked, and in a moment of desperation, he ran to the back of the building. North Korean guards quickly ushered him into a van, and he was driven away from the scene, leaving the South Korean side powerless to stop him.

An eyewitness, Sarah Leslie, recounted that a soldier on the South Korean side shouted, “Get him!” but King was already too fast and had disappeared across the border.

It was not until later that day, when King failed to show up at Fort Bliss as planned, that the US military realized he was missing. South Korean immigration officials confirmed to the US that King had not boarded the plane, adding to the concerns surrounding his actions and the potential implications of his crossing into North Korea.

The situation continues to be a matter of great concern for both US and South Korean authorities, and investigations into the incident are ongoing to understand the reasons behind King’s sudden decision to cross into North Korea.

The incident involving Private Travis King crossing into North Korea has left officials in the US government perplexed and concerned. As a US national, King’s unauthorized entry into one of the most hostile countries on earth has prompted a thorough investigation to understand the motivations behind his actions.

As of Wednesday, the White House stated that they are still in the process of determining King’s exact location and condition. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre emphasized that gathering all the facts is an ongoing process and that the administration is actively working to ensure King’s safety and his return to the US and his family.

In response to the situation, the US government is collaborating with the government of South Korea and Sweden, which generally represents US interests in North Korea due to the absence of diplomatic ties between the US and North Korea.

Officials from the US military have attempted to directly communicate with the North Korean government to resolve the issue, but they have not yet received any response. At this point, the US believes that King is still in North Korean custody, but they lack specific details about his well-being or whether he is still alive.

Adm. John Aquilino, the commander of US Indo-Pacific Command, confirmed that King made a run across the demilitarized zone in the Joint Security Area and was subsequently taken by North Koreans. However, there has been no direct contact with King since the incident occurred.

The situation remains delicate and complex, with officials working diligently to gather information and determine the appropriate course of action to ensure King’s safety and a resolution to the incident.