US fears mistreatment of American soldier held by North Korea

US deeply concerned a soldier who ran across the North Korean border may be mistreated by Pyongyang, as officials ignore ­inquiries about his fate.

Private Travis King was due to return to the US to face disciplinary consequences after serving jail time in South Korea. Picture: Supplied

The US fears an American ­soldier held by North Korea may be mistreated by Pyongyang, which has yet to respond to ­inquiries about his fate.

Private Travis King was due to return to the US to face disciplinary consequences after serving jail time in South Korea, but instead left the airport, joined a tour of the border and fled across it.

The US Army is investigating the incident but Pentagon officials have made clear that their first priority is securing the soldier’s release.

“It makes me very, very concerned that Private King is in the hands of the North Korean authorities … I worry about how they may treat him,” Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth said.

She referenced the case of Otto Warmbier, an American who was held for 18 months ­before being released in a coma to the US and dying six days later.

Travis King, fourth from left - in the black shirt- is pictured attending a border tour to the truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) dividing the two Koreas, on July 18 2023. Picture: AFP/Sarah Leslie

State Department spokesman Matt Miller also cited Pyongyang’s history of mistreating detainees.

“We would always have concern given the treatment by North Koreans of past detained individuals and that’s one of the reasons why we are reaching out to ask for more information about his well being,” Mr Miller said.

Ms Wormuth said Washington has sought information about Private King through UN channels, and that various parts of the government are involved in the effort.

“The Department of Defence, the State Department, the White House, we’re using UN channels, have been reaching out to get information about his status and to work with them to try to … bring him back,” she said.

The soldier “would have faced additional consequences” had he returned to the US as planned, though it was unclear if jail time was on the table. Hehad assaulted an individual in South Korea and had been in custody of the South Korean government and was going to come back to the United States and face the consequences in the army. And I’m sure that he was grappling with that.”

AFP