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Tags: north korea | south korea | dmz | travis king | defected | u.s.

Defecting to North Korea Is Rare but 'Not That Hard' to Do

South Korean soldiers stand guard in the truce village of Panmunjom inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating South and North Korea in Panmunjom, South Korea, on March 3. (Getty Images)
 

By    |   Thursday, 20 July 2023 07:29 AM EDT

While purposefully crossing the Military Demarcation Line to enter North Korea is nearly unheard of, Far East experts say that, despite heavy surveillance of the highly fortified area, they aren't surprised that a plainclothes American soldier was able to pull off the maneuver.

During a Tuesday tour of the DMZ, which divides South and North Korea, Private 2nd Class Travis King reportedly made a break for the Hermit Kingdom. He had already disobeyed orders by evading his scheduled travel home to Fort Bliss, Texas – where King faced the prospect of likely additional military discipline and discharge from the service after serving nearly two months in a South Korean prison for assault.

Marisa Herman

Marisa Herman, a Newsmax senior reporter, focuses on major and investigative stories. A University of Florida graduate, she has more than a decade of experience as a reporter for newspapers, magazines, and websites.

© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.


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While purposefully crossing the Military Demarcation Line to enter North Korea is nearly unheard of, Far East experts say that, despite heavy surveillance of the highly fortified area, they aren't surprised that a plainclothes American soldier was able to pull off the maneuver.
north korea, south korea, dmz, travis king, defected, u.s.
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2023-29-20
Thursday, 20 July 2023 07:29 AM
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