North Korea has boldly asserted that a US soldier crossed its border in quest of safety, blaming “inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination” as the motivation for this exceptional action.

The assertion complicates already complicated relations between the two countries.

Travis King, a US soldier who allegedly crossed the border into North Korea on July 18, is the subject of Pyongyang’s claim.

The incident took place while a visitor to the Joint Security Area (JSA), the demilitarized zone separating the two nations, was there.

 

North Korea alleges that King confessed to entering the country with the intention of seeking refuge in North Korea or a third country, driven by perceived injustices within the US.

“During the investigation, Travis King confessed that he had decided to come over to the DPRK as he harboured ill feeling against inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination within the U.S. Army,” state news agency KCNA reported on Wednesday.

It added; “He also expressed his willingness to seek refugee in the DPRK or a third country, saying that he was disillusioned at the unequal American society.”

KCNA said the 23-year-old was “kept under control by soldiers of the Korean People’s Army” after his crossing and the investigation continues.

US officials have said they believe King crossed the border intentionally and have declined to classify him as a prisoner of war