Travis King: North Korea says US soldier blamed discrimination

North Korea has said US worker Travis King crossed into its territory past period due to the fact that of "inhuman maltreatment and radical discrimination" successful the army.

The 23-year-old backstage dashed across the borderline from South Korea connected 18 July portion connected a guided tour.

Private 2nd Class (PV2) King "expressed his willingness to question refuge" successful the North, the country's authorities media said.

The claims, which are the North's archetypal nationalist comments connected the case, could not beryllium verified independently.

US officials said earlier they believed the worker had crossed the borderline intentionally.

PV2 King is simply a reconnaissance specializer who has been successful the service since January 2021 and was successful South Korea arsenic portion of his rotation.

Before crossing the border, helium served 2 months successful detention successful South Korea for battle charges and was released connected 10 July.

He was expected to alert backmost to the US to look disciplinary proceedings but managed to permission the airdrome and articulation a circuit of the Demilitarised Zone, which separates North and South Korea.

"During the investigation, Travis King confessed that helium had decided to travel implicit to the DPRK [North Korea] arsenic helium harboured sick feeling against inhuman maltreatment and radical favoritism wrong the US Army," North Korean authorities quality bureau KCNA said.

"He besides expressed his willingness to question exile successful the DPRK oregon a 3rd country, saying that helium was disillusioned astatine the unequal American society."

Concerns person been increasing for the US soldier's welfare. Negotiations betwixt the North Korean authorities and the UN bid connected the Korean peninsula person been ongoing.