North Korea has detained a U.S. Army private who crossed the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) into the communist country. The DMZ has been described as “the Cold War’s last divide.”
According to reports, Private Second Class Travis King defected, cackling as he ran into custody. (RELATED: Army Ranger Accused Of Mass Shooting May Have Been On Mushrooms, Court Docs Show)
Speaking to Fox News, retired CIA case officer Daniel Hoffman initially predicted North Korea would try to use King as a pawn to gain leverage in future negotiations with the United States.
However, senior U.S. officials have confirmed he was scheduled to face disciplinary action over a separate incident.
The Daily Beast reports:
The United Nations Command, a military force which operates in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and Joint Security Area (JSA) dividing the Korean Peninsula, announced that a U.S. national had crossed the border.
“A U.S. National on a JSA orientation tour crossed, without authorization, the Military Demarcation Line into the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK),” the UN Command tweeted. “We believe he is currently in DPRK custody and are working with our KPA counterparts to resolve this incident.”
According to South Korea’s Dong-a Ilbo newspaper, the man is a private in the U.S. Army. Unnamed American officials similarly told The Washington Post that the man is a U.S. Army soldier. One also said that the detained man was recently scheduled to get on a flight to the U.S. but he never boarded the plane, adding: “This was a deliberate decision on part of the service member to cross.” The United States is now reportedly trying to establish his whereabouts and condition.
One witness on the tour reported hearing a boisterous “ha-ha-ha” as King crossed the DMZ.
She added that visitors at the JSA had been asked by authorities not to share images of the incident.
This is a breaking news story. Click refresh for the latest updates.
READ NEXT: Trump Makes Huge Announcement
let him rot over there
As a Private, he’s not likely to be of much value to North Korea. In view of the damage by communist infiltration and empty speechifying, losing him will be a good thing for the U.S. Win-win…?
Since he went voluntarily, let him be like The Man Without a Country. He will soon discover the error of his ways. Darwin’s law wins again.
How many terrorists will SloJoe release in exchange for this bum?
From what I’ve heard this guy was trouble and they military was sending him back stateside most likely for a bad discharge.
So he thinks it’s funny defecting to North Korea; ok they may even treat him well for a few weeks/months as a political trophy But I will bet within a few months he will not only not be laughing but will be begging to come home to America
LET HIM STAY THERE….
show his wow to BLM ANTIFA and ?
Doubt he is still laughing