US Soldier’s Mom Doubts His Involvement in North Korean Incident

Jack DavisJuly 19, 2023

Mom of US⁣ Soldier⁢ in North ‌Korean Custody Speaks Out as More Details Emerge: ’I‌ Can’t See Travis Doing Anything Like That’

As Army Private ⁤Travis⁤ King’s motives‌ are‌ being analyzed after‌ he‌ dashed into North Korea on Tuesday, his mother is mystified.

“I can’t ⁣see Travis doing anything like that,”‍ Claudine Gates said, according to ABC.

Gates said she last heard from King “a few days ago,”‌ when he told ⁢her ‌he was⁤ returning from ⁣South Korea‌ to‍ Fort Bliss.

“I’m‌ so proud of him. I just ⁤want him⁣ to come home, come back⁢ to⁤ America,” ‍Gates said,‌ according to ⁢WISN-TV.

Photo of Travis⁣ King, ⁤the U.S. soldier who crossed ⁤into North Koreahttps://t.co/JJzuxHUMRC pic.twitter.com/WOn2UDH4Mt

— Steve‌ Lookner ‍(@lookner) July 19,‍ 2023

King “willfully and without authorization crossed‍ the military demarcation line.‍ We believe that he is in ⁣DPRK⁢ custody,” Defense ⁣Secretary Lloyd Austin said Tuesday,⁢ using ⁤the acronym for the official name of North Korea, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, according to⁢ ABC.

King, 23, who⁣ has ⁣been with the Army⁤ since ‍January 2021, has a past that includes a‍ run-in⁤ with South Korean

authorities.

According to NBC,‌ he was⁣ fined 5 million won ($3,950) by ‌a South Korean court. He had been accused of kicking and ⁣damaging a Seoul police car. At⁤ the time, he ⁤refused to cooperate in⁤ his‍ arrest and shouted profanities⁤ about South⁢ Koreans and the ⁤nation’s‌ army.

King ⁤served 47 days ‍in prison and was recently released, ABC reported.

A⁢ military ⁢escort brought ⁢King to the‍ Incheon International Airport to fly ‌home, where he would be separated from the service, ‍a U.S. official ‍said,‍ NBC ‍reported.

Instead,⁢ King found a⁣ way⁣ to⁤ join a tour group going through the ⁣Joint Security Area.

Sarah Leslie, a New Zealand ‍tourist, said⁣ that⁣ as the group finished ⁢its tour of⁤ the truce village of⁤ Panmunjom, King‌ acted.

She ⁤said‌ she saw King “running what looked like⁣ full gas towards ‍the‌ North ⁤Korean side.”

“Everybody⁤ was stunned and shocked,” Leslie said.

“I assumed‌ initially he had a mate filming him in some kind⁣ of really stupid prank‌ or stunt,⁣ like a TikTok, the most stupid thing you ⁢could ⁢do. But then I heard one of‍ the soldiers shout, ‘Get that guy,’” Leslie said, according to ⁢the Associated Press.

Leslie said a⁢ U.S. soldier ‌issued the⁣ command to stop King, but it was⁢ too⁢ late.

She said King‍ ran about 30 feet between buildings and then was in North Korean territory, ‌where he vanished from⁤ view.

“People couldn’t‌ really‍ quite⁣ believe what had happened,” Leslie⁣ said. “Quite a ⁣few were really shocked. ‌Once ⁤we got on⁤ the bus⁢ and got ⁢out of there, we were all‍ kind‌ of staring ‍at ⁢each other.”

The⁤ post ⁤Mom of ⁤US Soldier in North ⁢Korean ‍Custody Speaks Out as ⁣More‌ Details Emerge: ‘I Can’t⁤ See‌ Travis Doing Anything Like That’ appeared ⁤first on‍ The Western Journal.

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