US soldiers believed to have been detained by North Korea after crossing border without authorization, officials say
US soldiers invaded north korea U.S. and international officials said on Tuesday that they had been detained “intentionally and without permission” and were believed to be in custody of the country’s military. UN forces operating the Joint Security Area (JSA) within the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea first: Confirmed An unidentified American has crossed the border.
US officials told CBS News that the soldier in question was Private First Class Travis King, who had been released from military custody in South Korea and had been escorted out of the country for disciplinary reasons. After passing through airport security and leaving the country, he managed to return and join a border tour group to enter North Korea, officials said.
The United Nations Command said in a statement earlier that “an American who was on a JSA orientation tour crossed the Military Demarcation Line and entered the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) without authorization,” using North Korea’s official name. said. “We believe he is currently in custody in North Korea and is cooperating with our Korean People’s Army.” [North Korean army] I will dispatch my counterpart to solve this case. ”
According to local media, the man was visiting the Military Demarcation Line in Panmunjom with a civilian tour group and crossed the border at 3:27 pm local time (2:27 am Eastern time).
A person who witnessed the incident and was part of the same tour group told CBS News that he visited one of the buildings at the scene and said, “The man yelled ‘hahaha’ and ran between the buildings. I was about to go,” he said. building. ”
Witnesses said military personnel reacted to the man’s actions within seconds, but there was initial confusion.
“At first I thought it was a bad joke, but when he didn’t come back I realized it wasn’t, and then everyone reacted and things got crazy.”
Witnesses were told that no North Korean soldiers were seen where the man fled, and had not been seen since the coronavirus pandemic, when North Korea tried to completely close its borders with the outside world. said.
After the man ran across the border, they said, the tour group was rushed back to Freedom House for all to make a statement and then taken to a bus.
“I’m saying this because it really hit me hard,” said a witness. “On our way back on the bus, we arrived at one of the checkpoints.
They said the group first boarded a bus for a tour in Seoul and were asked to show identification in advance.
The demilitarized zone separating North and South Korea is one of the most militarized borders in the world. The two countries are technically at war, as fighting in the Korean War ended in an armistice rather than a full peace treaty in 1953. Since then, the United States has maintained a large military presence in South Korea.
Tensions between the isolated North Korean Kim Jong-un regime and the United States, as well as the United States’ main Asian allies South Korea and Japan, have soared over the past decade. After a false start to diplomacy under former President Donald Trump, North Korea has carried out a steady stream of missile and rocket tests, most of which have been denounced by the West as violating UN Security Council resolutions. ing.
U.S. officials have said they expect North Korea to conduct a new nuclear weapons test at any moment, which would be a significant escalation of what the West sees as Mr. Kim’s provocation.
Meanwhile, North Korea regularly warns the United States against holding joint military exercises with South Korea, which it claims are rehearsals for an invasion.
U.S. nuclear submarine visits South Korea
Tuesday’s border incident came after the U.S. military confirmed the arrival of the nuclear-powered submarine Kentucky at a South Korean port. It will be the first visit to South Korea by a US nuclear submarine in 40 years, and although it was announced in advance, North Korea is likely to claim it as another US provocation.
South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup said the submarine visit underscored the US commitment to “extended deterrence” of the threat posed by North Korea.
The nuclear-armed submarine anchored in the port of Busan “shows the allies’ overwhelming capabilities and attitudes toward North Korea,” Lee said.
About a week ago, Kim Jong-un’s powerful sister and supreme adviser, Kim Yo-jong, warned the US that increased US efforts to defend South Korea would push North Korea “further away from the negotiating table.” bottom.
He said North Korea was ready to “resolutely oppose any act that infringes on its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” and warned the United States that it was “foolish to provoke (North Korea) even at the risk of its security.” I warned you to stop such acts.
David Martin, Emmett Lyons and Tucker Realz of CBS News contributed to this report.
Summarize this content to 100 words
US soldiers invaded north korea U.S. and international officials said on Tuesday that they had been detained “intentionally and without permission” and were believed to be in custody of the country’s military. UN forces operating the Joint Security Area (JSA) within the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea first: Confirmed An unidentified American has crossed the border.US officials told CBS News that the soldier in question was Private First Class Travis King, who had been released from military custody in South Korea and had been escorted out of the country for disciplinary reasons. After passing through airport security and leaving the country, he managed to return and join a border tour group to enter North Korea, officials said. The United Nations Command said in a statement earlier that “an American who was on a JSA orientation tour crossed the Military Demarcation Line and entered the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) without authorization,” using North Korea’s official name. said. “We believe he is currently in custody in North Korea and is cooperating with our Korean People’s Army.” [North Korean army] I will dispatch my counterpart to solve this case. ”
According to local media, the man was visiting the Military Demarcation Line in Panmunjom with a civilian tour group and crossed the border at 3:27 pm local time (2:27 am Eastern time).
A file photo from 2017 shows guards standing guard in front of North Korea’s Panmundang (rear C) on the Military Demarcation Line that separates the North and South of Panmunjom in the Joint Security Area (JSA) of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). A Korean soldier is pictured.
Ed Jones/AFP/Getty
A person who witnessed the incident and was part of the same tour group told CBS News that he visited one of the buildings at the scene and said, “The man yelled ‘hahaha’ and ran between the buildings. I was about to go,” he said. building. ”
Witnesses said military personnel reacted to the man’s actions within seconds, but there was initial confusion.”At first I thought it was a bad joke, but when he didn’t come back I realized it wasn’t, and then everyone reacted and things got crazy.”Witnesses were told that no North Korean soldiers were seen where the man fled, and had not been seen since the coronavirus pandemic, when North Korea tried to completely close its borders with the outside world. said. After the man ran across the border, they said, the tour group was rushed back to Freedom House for all to make a statement and then taken to a bus.
“I’m saying this because it really hit me hard,” said a witness. “On our way back on the bus, we arrived at one of the checkpoints.They said the group first boarded a bus for a tour in Seoul and were asked to show identification in advance.
Demilitarized Zone Weapons and Equipment: South Korea’s Last Defense
25 photos
The demilitarized zone separating North and South Korea is one of the most militarized borders in the world. The two countries are technically at war, as fighting in the Korean War ended in an armistice rather than a full peace treaty in 1953. Since then, the United States has maintained a large military presence in South Korea. Tensions between the isolated North Korean Kim Jong-un regime and the United States, as well as the United States’ main Asian allies South Korea and Japan, have soared over the past decade. After a false start to diplomacy under former President Donald Trump, North Korea has carried out a steady stream of missile and rocket tests, most of which have been denounced by the West as violating UN Security Council resolutions. ing. U.S. officials have said they expect North Korea to conduct a new nuclear weapons test at any moment, which would be a significant escalation of what the West sees as Mr. Kim’s provocation.
North Korea launches two short-range ballistic missiles, White House announces new sanctions
04:37
Meanwhile, North Korea regularly warns the United States against holding joint military exercises with South Korea, which it claims are rehearsals for an invasion. U.S. nuclear submarine visits South KoreaTuesday’s border incident came after the U.S. military confirmed the arrival of the nuclear-powered submarine Kentucky at a South Korean port. It will be the first visit to South Korea by a US nuclear submarine in 40 years, and although it was announced in advance, North Korea is likely to claim it as another US provocation.
South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup said the submarine visit underscored the US commitment to “extended deterrence” of the threat posed by North Korea.
The U.S. Navy’s Ohio-class nuclear ballistic missile submarine USS Kentucky, pictured here, can carry up to 24 Trident II D-5 ballistic missiles with multiple individual target warheads.
PO1 Amanda Gray/United States Navy
The nuclear-armed submarine anchored in the port of Busan “shows the allies’ overwhelming capabilities and attitudes toward North Korea,” Lee said.About a week ago, Kim Jong-un’s powerful sister and supreme adviser, Kim Yo-jong, warned the US that increased US efforts to defend South Korea would push North Korea “further away from the negotiating table.” bottom.He said North Korea was ready to “resolutely oppose any act that infringes on its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” and warned the United States that it was “foolish to provoke (North Korea) even at the risk of its security.” I warned you to stop such acts.David Martin, Emmett Lyons and Tucker Realz of CBS News contributed to this report.
more
Hayley Ott
Hayley Ott is an international reporter for CBS News based in London.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/north-korea-us-national-american-crosses-border-demilitarized-zone-dmz-tour/ US soldiers believed to have been detained by North Korea after crossing border without authorization, officials say