Military & Veterans' Issues

U.S. soldier expelled from North Korea touches down in San Antonio

Texas Public Radio | By Carson Frame,

Published September 28, 2023 at 2:25 PM CDT

U.S. Private Travis T. King (wearing a black shirt and black cap) is seen in this picture taken during a tour of the tightly controlled Joint Security Area (JSA) on the border between the two Koreas, at the truce village of Panmunjom, South Korea, July 18, 2023.

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U.S. Army Private Travis King returned to the United States early Thursday morning following his release from North Korea.

Video footage shows King landing at Joint-Base San Antonio Fort Sam Houston not long after midnight.

He was expected to undergo a medical review and a reunification process at Brooke Army Medical Center — the same military hospital that treated WNBA player Brittney Griner when she was released by Russia in December 2022.

King ran into North Korea in mid-July after he served time in a South Korean prison for an assault. He was set to return to Fort Bliss before he ran across the border.

North Korea expelled the 23-year-old soldier on Wednesday and claimed he had confessed to an illegal entry.

He was transported to China and then taken into U.S. custody without any concessions.

A TV screen shows a file image of U.S. soldier Travis King during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday. North Korea said Wednesday that it was expelling King, who crossed into the country through the heavily armed border between the Koreas in July.

Military & Veterans' Issues

Travis King, U.S. soldier who ran to North Korea, is on his way to Texas

Michele Kelemen

U.S. officials thanked Sweden and China for help securing the release of the 23-year-old Army private, who fled to North Korea in July.

He met with Nicholas Burns, U.S. ambassador to China, near the North Korean border before his plane made a stop in Shenyang, China, en route to the Texas military base.

King will be reunited with his family before his case proceeds.

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