September 21, 2023
Analysis

North Korea breaks its silence on Travis King, but leaves his fate up in the air

DPRK uses American soldier’s case to take swipe at US, while suggesting it may wash its hands of ‘intruder’ in the end

For more than a month, observers have speculated whether North Korea will view Travis King as a useful propaganda tool for denouncing the U.S., or just a troublesome American who thinks he can claim asylum in the DPRK.

And judging from North Korea’s first-ever statement on the U.S. soldier, who crossed over during a tour of the inter-Korean border in July, it appears that even Pyongyang doesn’t yet know the answer to the question.