North Korea confirmed the detention of US soldier Private 2nd Class Travis King, who crossed into North Korea from the heavily armed Korean border due to disillusionment with inequality and racial discrimination within the US Army. King’s case, the first in five years, could be used for diplomatic leverage by North Korea. Amid increased tensions on the Korean Peninsula, analysts speculate North Korea might tie his release to reduced US-South Korean military activities. The US and North Korea, still technically at war since the 1950-53 conflict, lack diplomatic ties. King was initially released from prison in South Korea before crossing into North Korea.
North Korea claims a US soldier defected to the North after becoming disillusioned with American life
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