The information was revealed by the official North Korean news agency KCNA, who, after long weeks of silence, put an end to the “Travis King affair” in a few lines of press release: “Following the investigation by a competent organ of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea [la Corée du Nord]Travis King admitted to entering North Korea illegally because he abhorred inhumane treatment and racial discrimination within the US military and was disillusioned with the unequal American society […]. North Korea has decided to expel Travis King.”
This 23-year-old American soldier entered North Korean territory illegally last July, joining a group of tourists to cross the demilitarized zone that separates the two countries. The military “was at that time stationed in South Korea, recalls the British media BBC, but he was to be returned to the United States to face disciplinary action after spending two months in detention in South Korea on assault charges..
At the time of his flight, the news had caused a lot of ink to flow in the international press, before the whole story faded into the background due to lack of information filtering from Pyongyang.
Unusual outcome
Almost a month later, on August 15, noted The New York Times, “North Korea had indicated that soldier King wanted to take refuge in the communist country or in a third country”. This wish was ultimately not granted by the authorities of the Democratic People’s Republic, for unknown reasons.
A somewhat surprising outcome for the American media, according to which “it is unusual for North Korea to expel a US soldier who has expressed a wish to seek asylum”. Indeed, continues the progressive media, “In the past, the country has allowed American soldiers who had deserted to live and even start families there. Personal situations that North Korea has often used as propaganda tools, even having these soldiers play the role of evil officers in anti-American films.
In any case, the “Travis King affair” is perhaps not at its last twist, since as we speak, we do not yet know when, and especially where, the American soldier will be “expelled”.
2023-09-27 15:49:34
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