American soldier who defected to North Korea returns to the US

2023-09-28 21:00:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

American soldier who defected to North Korea returns to the US

The picture of US soldier Travis King appears on the news screens in South Korea

The American soldier who illegally entered North Korean territory in July returned early Thursday morning to the United States, according to a US defense official.

He said that Travis King had arrived in the city of San Antonio, Texas.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters on Wednesday that Mr. King had entered Chinese territory from North Korea with the help of the Swedish government.

He added that the American authorities had received the soldier in China and from there he had headed towards the United States.

"We thank the government of Sweden for its diplomatic role in serving as a protective power for the United States in North Korea as well as the government of the People's Republic of China for its assistance in facilitating the transit of Soldier King," Mr. Sullivan said in a statement. on Wednesday.

Pentagon press secretary Brigadier General Pat Ryder praised "the hard work of military personnel, United States troops in South Korea and throughout the Department of Defense to bring Private Travis King home."

During a press conference on Wednesday, a senior administration official told VOA that Washington has not made any concessions to North Korea in terms of releasing Private King.

"We will focus in the coming weeks, as long as it takes, to get the soldier in good health and then we will address any administrative actions that may follow his reintegration process," the US official said. .

A statement Wednesday from the legal representative of Claudine Gates, Mr. King's mother, said: "Ms. Gates will be forever grateful to the United States military and all of its interagency partners for the good work they did."

Earlier on Wednesday, North Korea announced it would deport the soldier after completing its investigation.

Zoti Travis u kap nga ushtarët e Koresë së Veriut në muajin korrik, pasi kaloi kufirin nëpërmjet asaj që njihet si zonë e çmilitarizuar, që ndan dy Koretë. Në atë kohë ai sapo ishte liruar nga burgu në Korenë e Jugut, i akuzuar për sulm fizik. Me kthimin e tij në SHBA, Travis King pritej të përballej me një masë administrative që me gjasa do të çonte në largim të tij nga ushtria amerikane.

Por në vend që të hipte në avionin që po nisej drejt Shteteve të Bashkuara më 17 korrik, ai doli fshehurazi nga aeroporti dhe një ditë më vonë kaloi kufirin drejt Koresë së Veriut, ndërsa ishte fshehur mes një grupi turistësh që po vizitonin një fshat në kufi.

Zoti King ishte veshur me rroba civile kur u kap nga ushtarët e Koresë së Veriut.

North Korea's official KCNA news agency said Wednesday that Mr. King had expressed displeasure over what he called "inhumane treatment and racial discrimination within the US military." The agency added that according to North Korea's findings, Mr. King was seeking refuge in North Korea or elsewhere, precisely for these reasons./ VOA