The Department of Defense has confirmed that North Korea has responded to outreach regarding Private Travis King, who crossed into North Korea in July. This marks the first public acknowledgment of North Korea’s response to King’s situation. The U.S. communicated through established channels at the United Nations Command, but had been waiting for a response from North Korea for several weeks.
Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder stated that the response from North Korea was an acknowledgement that they had received the request for information. However, he did not provide any details about the content of the response or when it was sent.
Private Travis King crossed into North Korea after breaking away from a group tour of the demilitarized zone. He was scheduled to return to the U.S. for separation from the Army after serving time in a South Korean detention facility. Army counter-intelligence is conducting a joint investigation with U.S. Forces Korea to determine the circumstances of King’s actions.
The Pentagon’s confirmation of North Korea’s response comes amid growing concerns about King’s welfare. The U.S. officials have expressed deep concern over his fate and are working with the interagency to gather more information. However, the current status and condition of King remain unknown.