An eyewitness account reveals the shocking moment a US soldier bolted across the border into North Korea, leaving fellow tourists bewildered. Sarah Leslie, a New Zealander on a DMZ tour, initially mistook Private Travis King's sprint for a prank. King, dressed in civilian clothes, separated from the group and raced into North Korean territory, where he is now being held.
Leslie, speaking to the Associated Press, described the scene: "I assumed initially he had a mate filming him in some kind of really stupid prank...like a TikTok…But then I heard one of the soldiers shout, ‘Get that guy.’"
King's unexpected move came after his release from a South Korean detention facility, where he'd served time for a physical altercation. A senior defense official revealed King had expressed reluctance to return to the US, where he faced potential disciplinary action. Instead of boarding his flight back to Fort Bliss, he made the impulsive decision to cross into North Korea.
Leslie's tour group had been granted special access to the Joint Security Area in Panmunjom, allowing them to step onto North Korean soil within designated buildings. She noted King's quiet demeanor throughout the tour, observing that he mostly kept to himself. As the tour concluded, King made his dash, leaving the group stunned. US officials are currently working with North Korean authorities to address the situation.
Leslie, a lawyer from Wellington, New Zealand, expressed her disbelief at King's actions, admitting she couldn't fathom why anyone would choose to flee to North Korea.
