DPRK: US soldier seeks refuge from racism

PYONGYANG — US soldier Travis King wants to seek refuge in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea or a third country as he was greatly disappointed by inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination within the US Army, DPRK's state media said on Wednesday.

The Korean Central News Agency, or KCNA, said that King, a private second class of the United States Army in the Republic of Korea, illegally intruded into the territory of the DPRK on July 18. It was the DPRK's first public acknowledgment of the army private's crossing.

At 3:30 pm on July 18, King, who was part of a tour group that visited the joint security area of Panmunjom, "deliberately intruded into the area of the DPRK side", KCNA said.

According to the KCNA, an investigation by the DPRK showed that "King admitted that he illegally intruded into the territory of the DPRK". The 23-year-old also confessed "he had decided to come over to the DPRK as he harbored ill feelings against inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination within the US Army".

"He also expressed his willingness to seek refugee in the DPRK or a third country, saying he was disillusioned at the unequal American society," KCNA said, adding the investigation continues.

On the day of the incident, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed that a US serviceman from the United States Forces Korea had crossed the joint security area of Panmunjom into DPRK territory without authorization. In August, King's uncle, Myron Gates, told ABC News that his nephew, who is black, was experiencing racism during his military service.

The report comes a day before the United Nations Security Council is due to meet at the behest of Washington to discuss human rights abuses in the DPRK.

Chen Yingqun contributed to this story.

Agencies - Xinhua