US soldier prisoned in Seoul for crossing the border without authorization

An American soldier, Pvt. Travis King, who had crossed the inter-Korean border into North Korea, was discovered to have been in a prison workshop for 48 days. He had failed to pay a court fine for causing damage to a police patrol car in Seoul by kicking it. Pvt. Travis King, stationed in South Korea, crossed the border into North Korea without authorization during a tour of the Joint Security Area on Tuesday.

He is believed to be in North Korea’s custody, according to the UN Command and American defense authorities. American media reported that he was being sent back to the US for disciplinary action in connection with assault charges he faced in South Korea.