CNN – US Army Private Travis King has returned to the United States after being detained in North Korea for crossing the border, according to a Defense Department official. King arrived at Kelly Field at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston around 1:30 a.m. ET on a US military flight. A CNN camera captured footage of King being escorted off the plane by several individuals. Although many questions remain about the incident and any potential disciplinary action, King’s return signifies a rare diplomatic success between Washington and Pyongyang during a time of strained relations. The process of securing King’s release involved intense diplomacy between several countries, including China and Sweden. North Korean state media reported on Wednesday that Pyongyang had decided to expel King, who entered their territory in July. Upon his return, King is expected to go to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, which has a program to help detainees readjust to civilian life. US military officials stated that King willfully and without authorization crossed into North Korea in July. Prior to this, King had been released from a detention facility in South Korea. The day before he crossed into North Korea, King was scheduled to board a flight to Texas, where he was to face disciplinary procedures. However, he left the airport on his own after Army escorts released him at a security checkpoint. The next day, he joined a tour of the Joint Security Area and crossed the demarcation line into North Korean territory. North Korea claimed that King had confessed to illegally intruding into their territory due to his dissatisfaction with the US army and society. However, it is unclear whether these are King’s actual words. US officials stated that King was happy to be returning home. The North Koreans handed King over to the US Ambassador to China in Dandong, China, and he was subsequently taken into US military custody. The US received word from Sweden earlier this month that Pyongyang wanted to release King. This incident marks the first time a US soldier has crossed into North Korea since 1982. The demilitarized zone that separates North and South Korea, including the Joint Security Area, is known for its high tension. While a few US soldiers defected to North Korea in the past, recent cases of detainment have primarily involved civilians. The most notable case was that of Otto Warmbier, who died shortly after his release from North Korean custody. The return of Travis King comes at a time of heightened tension between North Korea and the US, particularly regarding North Korea’s nuclear program.
