American Soldier's BIZARRE Cross Into North Korea: Mother Denies Involvement, Demands His Safe Return

Claudine Gates of Racine, Wisconsin, identified as King's mother, told ABC News, "I can't see Travis doing anything like that." She also revealed that she last heard from him "a few days ago" when he mentioned his return to Fort Bliss in Texas, and now she just wants him to come home.

North Korea has not provided any updates on King's status. An Army spokesperson informed Fox News that King enlisted in January 2021 and currently serves as a cavalry scout with the 4th Infantry Division.

A New Zealand woman who was part of the same tour as King on Tuesday recounted the incident. Sarah Leslie told 1News, "Suddenly, I noticed a guy running, dressed in black, what looked like full gas toward the North Korean side." Initially, Leslie and others in the tour group thought King, who was dressed in civilian clothing, was filming a TikTok video. However, he continued running without stopping. Soldiers pursued King while the rest of the tour group was escorted into a building. Leslie described the scene as chaotic, saying, "Everyone was kind of flipping their lid, and once we got in the building, it was kind of like, 'Oh my God.'"

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A spokesperson for U.S. Forces Korea stated that King had crossed the Military Demarcation Line into the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) without authorization during a joint security area orientation tour. The spokesperson confirmed that King is currently in DPRK custody and efforts are underway to resolve the situation in cooperation with the Korean People's Army.

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July 20, 2023

This incident occurred shortly after King's release from a South Korean detention facility, where he had spent approximately two months following a physical altercation with locals, according to a senior defense official cited by Fox News. During his time in detention, King reportedly expressed a desire not to return to the United States. He was scheduled to be sent back to Fort Bliss on Monday, where he could have faced further military discipline and potential discharge from the service.

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King has previously faced assault-related allegations in South Korea. In February, he was fined $3,950 and convicted of assaulting an unidentified person and damaging a police vehicle in Seoul. The court dismissed an additional charge of punching a 23-year-old man at a nightclub, as the victim did not wish for King to be punished.

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The situation surrounding Pvt. Travis King's detention in North Korea remains uncertain, with his mother expressing disbelief at his actions. Efforts are underway to resolve the incident, but the details and potential consequences for King are yet to be determined.