SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea mentioned Wednesday {that a} U.S. soldier who bolted into the North throughout the closely armed Korean border final month did so after being disillusioned on the inequality of American society.

It’s North Korea’s first official affirmation of detention of Private 2nd Class Travis King, who entered the North whereas on a tour of a Korean border village on July 18. He grew to become the primary American detained within the North in almost 5 years.

The North’s official Korean Central News Agency mentioned King advised investigators that he had determined to enter North Korea as a result of he “harbored ill feeling against inhuman mistreatment and racial discrimination within the U.S. Army.”

It mentioned King additionally expressed his willingness to hunt refuge in North Korea or a 3rd nation, saying he “was disillusioned at the unequal American society.”

North Korea mentioned an investigation into King would proceed.

Analysts earlier mentioned North Korea may attempt to use King’s case to wrest concessions from Washington, similar to tying his launch to the U.S. slicing again its navy actions with South Korea.

King’s border crossing got here amid heightened animosities on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea has performed greater than 100 weapons assessments because the starting of final yr, prompting the U.S. to broaden its navy drills with South Korea. North Korea views U.S.-South Korean navy coaching as an invasion rehearsal.

King was speculated to be heading to Fort Bliss, Texas, following his launch from jail in South Korea on an assault conviction.

According to U.S. officers, King - who selected to serve his time at a labor camp relatively than pay the almost $4,000 fantastic - has been declared AWOL. The punishment for being away with out depart can embody confinement within the brig, forfeiture of pay or dishonorable discharge and it's largely primarily based on how lengthy they have been away and whether or not they have been apprehended or returned on their very own.

The U.S. and North Korea, which fought throughout the 1950-53 Korean War, are nonetheless technically at battle since that battle led to a truce, not a peace treaty, and haven't any diplomatic ties. Sweden offered consular providers for Americans in previous instances, however Swedish diplomatic employees reportedly haven’t returned since North Korea ordered foreigners to depart the nation at first of the COVID-19 pandemic.

North Korea has beforehand held quite a few Americans who have been arrested for anti-state, espionage and different prices. But no different Americans have been recognized to be detained since North Korea expelled American Bruce Byron Lowrance in 2018. During the Cold War, a small variety of U.S. troopers who fled to North Korea later appeared in North Korean propaganda movies.

U.S. officers have expressed concern about his well-being and mentioned beforehand that North Korea ignored requests for details about him.

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