North Korea expels US soldier Travis King

North Korean authorities expelled Travis King, the US soldier who had crossed into the country from the South in July, Pyongyang's state media reported on Wednesday. 

According to the KCNA news agency, authorities finished questioning King, who had confessed to entering the country illegally because of his "ill feeling against inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination" in the US Army.

Later on Wednesday, Washington said King was in US custody.

"We can confirm that Private King was very happy to be on his way home," a senior US administration official told reporters.

"He is very much looking forward to seeing his family." 

US thanks Sweden, China for mediating

"We appreciate the dedication of the interagency team that has worked tirelessly out of concern for Private King's wellbeing," said White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan. 

King left North Korea across its border with China, not returning back the way he'd come into South Korea. 

Sweden, one of few Western countries with an embassy still open in Pyongyang, at the site of the former East Germany's old embassy, helped broker King's release, along with China. 

Swedish officials took King to the Chinese border, where he was met by the US ambassador to China and at least one US Defense Department official, according to the Associated Press (AP). 

"We thank the government of Sweden for its diplomatic role serving as the protecting power for the United States in the DPRK and the government of the People's Republic of China for its assistance in facilitating the transit of Private King," Sullivan said.

US news agency AP also cited unnamed officials as saying that no concessions had been granted to North Korea for King's return. 

How did King flee to North Korea?

King, who has been a cavalry scout with the US Army since 2021, was serving in South Korea as part of his rotation.

Following assault charges over a conflict with locals, King spent 47 days at a Korean detention facility, from which he was released in July, US officials confirmed.

The 23-year-old private was set to face military disciplinary measures in Fort Bliss, Texas, but managed to escape his guards on the way back to the United States.

Dressed in civilian clothes, King joined a tourist group on their trip to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) at the North Korean border. In the village of Panmunjom, which is split between North and South Korea, he crossed the border on July 18, according to social media reports of other members of the tour group.

What happened after he crossed the border?

Authorities in Pyongyang did not give any information on King's whereabouts for several weeks after he crossed the border.

In August, they said he was being held and questioned about the circumstances of his entering the country.

North Korea subsequently said that King had admitted to illegally crossing the border and claimed he "was disillusioned at the unequal American society."

The US said at the time they could not verify the reports and that it would "remain focused on his safe return." 

Washington had classified King as AWOL ("absent without leave"), which means he could face various military disciplinary actions including jail time, but not as a prisoner of war. 

North Korea, also, appears to have treated the case more as if it were one of illegal migration, at least in the end — given that on Wednesday KCNA reported that Pyongyang had decided to "expel" the private after he had "illegally intruded" into North Korean territory.

msh, fg/sms (AFP, AP, Reuters)