As if the tensions weren’t high enough in the Korean peninsula, they rose exponentially on Tuesday after a U.S. soldier facing disciplinary action decided to run away to North Korea.
Who’s the soldier?
A Private 2nd Class soldier, identified as 23-year-old Travis King, is a cavalry scout initially assigned to Army’s 1st Armoured Division, stationed in South Korea. He joined U.S. Army in January 2021.
However, he was recently held on charges of assault and spent 50 days in detention before getting released. After his release on Monday, he was supposed to be sent home, where he would be facing military disciplinary actions and potential discharge from the service.
What Happened?
The procedure was followed, and he was taken to the airport and escorted till he cleared customs. But then, instead of boarding the flight, he left the airport and ended up on a tour of the Korean border village of Panmunjom as a tourist, where he gave a loud laugh of Ha Ha Ha before sprinting across the border into North Korea on Tuesday afternoon.
However, what he did between Monday and Tuesday afternoon and where he went after leaving the airport and crossing the border is still unknown.
In a press conference on Tuesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed the news. He said the U.S. is investigating the situation and trying to find out about the soldier’s well-being but added that he was now likely in the custody of North Korea.
Not the first defection
Around 30,000 North Koreans have fled to South Korea since the end of the Korean War. Hence, the news of North Koreans trying to escape the Hermit Kingdom is commonly reported.
However, cases of South Koreans or Americans deflecting to North Korea are rare. In fact, the serviceman has become the first American to be detained by North Korea in five years.
History of Panmunjom
Panmunjom is a popular tourist spot, with nearly a hundred thousand people visiting it yearly before the Covid-19 pandemic. The U.N. Command and North Korea have jointly overseen it since its creation at the end of the Korean War. However, it has also seen occasional bloodshed and gunfire.
For example, in November 2017, a North Korean soldier tried to escape to south korea through Panmunjon but was shot five times after North Korean soldiers fired indiscriminately upon him. However, he was successfully rescued by the South Korean soldiers once he crossed the border.
The most famous incident at Panmunjom happened in August 1976, when Washington and Pyongyang almost went to war after North Korean soldiers killed two American army officers with axes. This saw the U.S. fly its nuclear-capable B-52 bombers toward North Korea.
Showing their strength
Currently, the Korean Peninsula is a sensitive zone as North Korea continues to expand its weapon arsenal and nuclear capability. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the U.S. docked a nuclear-armed submarine in South Korea for the first time since 1981.
After this, North Korea responded by launching two ballistic missiles. The U.S. also has about 28,000 troops stationed in South Korea.
