"American Soldier Detained in North Korea: A Troubled Past and Tense Silence"

Travis King, the US soldier who fled to North Korea, had a history of getting into fights and damaging property in South Korea before crossing the border. He had recently been released from a detention facility in Seoul and was being sent back to the US when he escaped. It remains unclear why he crossed the border, but US authorities have expressed concern for his well-being. King's mother said she couldn't imagine her son doing such a thing. He was investigated for assault in South Korea and had served two months in jail before his release. After leaving the airport, he embarked on a tour of the Demilitarized Zone before making a run across the border. The United Nations Command believes he is now in custody of North Korea.