King, a cavalry scout with the 1st Armored Division, had been released from a South Korean prison on July 10 and was due to return to Fort Bliss, Texas, where he could have faced further military discipline and potential discharge. However, he left the airport after being escorted to customs and joined the Panmunjom tour before making his daring escape. The Army has released limited information about King, and his family has been notified of the situation.
The U.S. government, including the White House and the U.S. Defense Secretary, is actively working with North Korean counterparts to resolve the situation. However, it remains uncertain how communication between the two countries will proceed, as they have no diplomatic relations. In the past, Sweden has provided consular services for Americans detained in North Korea, but its diplomatic staff has not returned to North Korea since the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.
While cases of Americans defecting to North Korea are rare, North Korea may view this incident as an opportunity to undermine the United States. The crossing occurred on the same day a U.S. submarine arrived in South Korea, and some experts believe North Korea will not return King since he is a soldier from a nation technically at war with North Korea.
