U.S. Private Travis King headed home after expelled by DPRK
U.S. officials said King was safe in U.S. custody after he was expelled by North Korea over the border into China today. The U.S. expresses gratitude to Sweden and China for help.
Private Travis King, the U.S. Army soldier who crossed into North Korea in July, is safely back in U.S. custody, delighted American officials said today.
“U.S. officials have secured the return of Private Travis King from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK),” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a statement. “We appreciate the dedication of the interagency team that has worked tirelessly out of concern for Private King’s wellbeing.”
King, 23, was transferred over the North Korean border into China with the help of Sweden today, in what ebullient U.S. officials described as a complex operation that had to come together quickly, apparently after being informed that North Korea planned to expel him.
“The Private was transferred out of the DPRK across the border to China, with the help of the government of Sweden,” a senior US administration official, speaking not for attribution to describe the case, told reporters on a call this morning, embargoed until King had safely arrived at a US military facility. “The United States has been able to receive him in China, and is now in the process of transferring him home.”
King was said to appear to be in good health and in good spirits.
“Private King appears to be in good health and good spirits as he makes his way home,” the US official said. He has been able to make speak with his family since leaving North Korea today, they said.
The U.S. expressed gratitude not only to the Swedish Government, which serves as the U.S. protecting power in North Korea, but offered rare praise and gratitude to China as well for its help facilitating King’s transfer out of North Korea into U.S. custody.
“We are grateful to the Swedish government for its diplomatic role in serving as a protecting power for the US in the DPRK and to the government of the People’s Republic of China for its assistance in facilitating the safe transit of Private King,” the U.S. official said. “The PRC played a very constructive role in facilitating his transfer out of China.”
“We thank the government of Sweden for its diplomatic role serving as the protecting power for the United States in the DPRK and the government of the People’s Republic of China for its assistance in facilitating the transit of Private King,” Sullivan said.
“We’re just incredibly happy to have private King on his way home,” another U.S. official said.
King’s mother, Claudine Gates, expressed gratitude to the U.S. Army and all partners involved in her son’s release.
“Ms. Gates will be forever grateful to the United States Army and all its interagency partners for a job well done,” a spokesman for the family, Jonathan Franks, said in a statement. “For the foreseeable future, the family asks for privacy and Ms. Gates does not intend to give any interviews.”
US officials said no concessions had been given to North Korea for King’s release. “There were none. Full stop,” the U.S. official said. But they said they remained open to diplomacy with Pyongyang, after they get him safely home.
“The US government remains very open to the possibilty of diplomacy with the DPRK, and again, very much appreciate the fact that we have this good news to share today,” the US official said.
“This incident to our minds demonstrates that keeping lines of communication open, even when ties are strained, is a really important thing to do and can deliver results,” the official said. “We stand ready for any further diplomacy that might be possible. But for today, we are just focused on Private King’s return to the United States.”
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