Travis King in US custody after North Korea expulsion
After being transferred into US custody in China, Pvt King was flown to a US military installation.
A 23-year-old reconnaissance specialist illegally crossed into North Korea in July.
According to North Korean media, he fled because of US military racism and inhuman treatment.
According to a senior administration official, Pvt King has been returned to US hands after months of “intense diplomacy.”
Pvt King is very happy to be home, and he looks forward to reuniting with his family, the official said.
In order to reunite him with his family, we will guide him through an emotional and medical reintegration process.
According to the official, the US made no concessions in order to free him.
In Dandong, a state department aircraft transported Pvt King to a South Korean US airbase after he met US officials.
According to state department spokesperson Matthew Miller, he will return to U.S. soil on Wednesday afternoon. A state-run news agency reported earlier on Wednesday that North Korea had decided to remove Pvt King.
“In accordance with the laws of the DPRK, the appropriate body has deported US soldier Travis King, who entered the country illegally.”
As part of a rotation through his unit, Pvt King was in South Korea.
During his two months in detention in South Korea, he was charged with assaulting two people and kicking a police car. On 10 July, he was released from custody.