US soldier who fled to North Korea had served time in a South Korean prison
The mother of the American soldier who illegally crossed into North Korea said she was “shocked” and just wanted him to return home.
Private 2nd Class Travis King, who is in his early 20s, crossed the heavily fortified inter-Korean border to enter North Korea where he is believed to be detained, in an incident that has threatened a new diplomatic row and a crisis with the nuclear-armed state.
His mother, Claudine Gates, of Racine, Wisconsin, told ABC News that she heard from her son “a few days ago”.
“I can’t see Travis doing anything like that,” Ms Gates said, adding that she was taken aback when she was told her son had crossed into North Korea.
It has emerged that Mr King served nearly two months in a South Korean jail on assault charges and was released on 10 July after serving his time in jail, officials said.
He was expected to face additional military disciplinary action after returning to Texas. The soldier was part of a group taking a tour of the Korean border village of Panmunjom before bolting across the border.
