With assistance from Sweden and China, Travis King has officially returned to U.S. soil at a military base in Texas and is reportedly in good spirits.
From Axios:
Driving the news: The soldier, Travis King, is expected to undergo a medical review to support his reintegration process at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.
Catch up quick: North Korea announced earlier Wednesday that it planned to expel King, AP reported citing the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Authorities said King, a 23-year-old Army private, had admitted to entering the country illegally, KCNA added.
What they're saying: "We appreciate the hard work of personnel in the Army, United States Forces Korea, and across the Department of Defense, along with our State Department colleagues, to bring Private King back to the United States, and we thank the governments of Sweden and the People's Republic of China (PRC) for their assistance," Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement Wednesday.
Details: Senior administration officials confirmed Wednesday that King’s transfer out of North Korea was the culmination of a monthlong effort by the U.S. government.
Officials said the U.S. learned from Sweden earlier this month that North Korea wished to expel King, kicking off an intense period of diplomacy.
King was in “good health and good spirits” Wednesday, they added.
Sweden, as the “protecting power” for the U.S. in North Korea, was the United States’ “primary interlocutor” in the matter. Swedish officials entered North Korea and transferred King to China, where the U.S. government received him.
Officials thanked China for its role in helping facilitate King’s safe transit but stated that China did not play a mediating role in King’s release.
The big picture: The U.S. officials did not say why North Korea had decided to expel King, but noted that no concessions were made to secure his release.
From China, King was taken to a U.S. Air Force base in South Korea, before traveling to the U.S., State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said at a press briefing Wednesday afternoon.
"We appreciate the dedication of the interagency team that has worked tirelessly out of concern for Private King's wellbeing," White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement.
There is still no confirmed reason why King crossed the border into North Korea, but rumors suggest that he was fleeing some form of legal trouble in the U.S.
Nevertheless, it's evident that North Korea didn't welcome him, and he's probably in even greater trouble now than when he crossed that border.
