U.S. authorities have said Pvt. 2nd Class King was punished for misconduct while serving in South Korea and was due to be sent back to the United States when he skipped his scheduled flight.
Instead, he joined a tour of the Joint Security Area in the demilitarized zone separating North and South Korea before he appeared to dart across the border. He has not been heard from since.
The United States said in July that King was believed to be in North Korean custody — a rare case of an American service member held in one of the world’s most isolated states — and that it would work to secure his release.
Last month, North Korea claimed that King told investigators he had decided to cross into North Korea because of his “ill feeling against inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination within the U.S. Army.” It said he was disillusioned with the “unequal American society.” The U.S. Defense Department said it could not verify North Korea’s comments on King.
U.S. officials have said that the soldier “willfully and without authorization” crossed into the North.
The United States, which has no formal diplomatic relations with North Korea, has worked with Sweden to help secure King’s return. Sweden has an embassy in Pyongyang, but its diplomats have not returned to North Korea since they were ordered to leave during the coronavirus pandemic.
Francis reported from London.