North Korea Has Ignored Outreach Over US Soldier Who Fled: Pentagon

North Korea has so far declined to respond to US outreach about the fate of a Pvt. Travis King who fled into the isolated country in what may have been an effort to escape court martial after being charged with assault, the Pentagon said.

"We don't know his condition, we don't know where he's being held," Singh said. "We don't know the status of his health. But we are working with the interagency, through the DOD, through the NSC and State, really pulling all levers of government here to try and find out more."

On Tuesday, the Army said Private Second Class Travis King, 23, crossed over the border between South and North Korea. A US official familiar with the matter said King had been released from South Korean detention where he had been held on charges of assaulting two Koreans, and was facing the possibility of being expelled from the military after being returned to the US.

--------

Bloomberg Quicktake brings you global social video spanning business, technology, politics and culture. Make sense of the stories changing your business and your world.

Connect with us on…

[titob.yotokojr.]

He crossed the border on his own volition. He is of age and is free to make a choice. Let him be and let him stay in North Korea as he wants.

[Kwelinzito]

North Korea did not abduct nor kidnap him.

[markfischer]

This foolish young man threw his life away. He had so many opportunities ahead of him. I think when he matures he will come to regret what he did to himself. Of all the places to defect to DPRK is among the worst. How sad for his family.

[davidmaudsley]

He is a traitor and needs to be treated a such let Kim
Keep him

[billstapleton]

Seems to me he was trying to run away from the trouble he was in. The problems he had caused in South Korea was something he did not want to face. He thought he could just cross the border and get away. Shows how little people under how other Governments work.

[RoseColeman-qp]

I think he was just going through some stuff he's young. All we can do is keep him in are prayers.

[austinjoliet]

I'm a vet and have no sympathy for him. Let him rot. Do not bargain for that guy. He made his bed.

[rudylopez]

America used this soldier as a cannon fodder.. where are the special forces using black hawk? When a servicemen are in trouble, the govt will ditch you

[Nadanadamads]

Leave him there. He knew exactly what he was doing.

[manuelmoraleda]

How much enthusiasm does he have in coming back to the U.S. ?

[wilbobblehead]

The way I see it is he made the choice to go over there on his own, so now he can deal with it on his own.

[ana]

Um uh um um um uh um uh um um ... this is the Pentagon on 2023? 🤨🤔

[stevekight]

He jumped the barrier, let him go. He is a deserter.

[TheJohnnyJohnny]

I hope he will become a propaganda superstar like the other dude before him. If he's dead, I'll personally mad at Kim and whatever destruction plan of North Korea I'll fully support it.

[JMAC]

He ran to them, he wanted to stay, let him….. he doesn’t want to e an American anymore… fine. See ya

[fylecabagnot]

Let him experience probably the worst environment of prisons and loss of freedom!!!! Nobody asked him to break the law!!! Let him learn the hard way.. He really found out in the wrong country😢

[phillipbraden]

Hello. Can Dennis Rodmen place part in a none governmental commication between the United States and North Korea?

[tommyharrison]

Probably Hanging Upside Down By his Toes, He's Gone.

[cindymaloney]

I'm saddened that the US has such low standards for military recruitment. The young man who crossed to the DPRK is clearly not the best of the best.

[JeepinBoon]

North Koreans said yum yum. US ambassador said I see nothing