North Korea to expel US soldier

ISTANBUL

Pyongyang has decided to expel a US soldier who crossed into North Korea from the Southern side of the demilitarized zone in July, ostensibly to avoid disciplinary action back home after serving time in a South Korean military prison on assault charges.

“The relevant organ of the DPRK decided to expel Travis King, a soldier of the US Army who illegally intruded into the territory of the DPRK, under the law of the Republic," Seoul-based Yonhap News reported, quoting North's official news agency.

DPRK stands for Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's official name.

Pyongyang’s decision came after it claimed last month that the US soldier was "seeking refuge" due to "racial discrimination within" the American military.

It was Pyongyang's first public acknowledgment of Travis King, a private 2nd class of the US Army who crossed into North Korea from South Korea during a visit to the Panmunjom Joint Security Area.

King was accompanying tourists to Panmunjom, it added.

Soon after the UN forces guarding the area revealed King's crossing into North Korea in July, Washington said that it had not engaged in any significant communication with North Korea concerning the American soldier.

King was reportedly on his way back to the US to face disciplinary action after spending time in a South Korean military prison on assault charges.