₦airaland Forum

U.S. Soldier, Travis King, Who Crossed Into Our Territory Wants Refuge From Mistreatment, Racial Discrimination —North Korea


U.S. officials said they believe King crossed the border intentionally, and have declined so far to classify him as a prisoner of war.

North Korea has said U.S. soldier Travis King crossed into its territory last month because of "inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination" in the army.

The 23-year-old private dashed across the border from South Korea on 18 July while on a guided tour.

Private King admitted to crossing illegally and wanted refuge in the North, state news agency KCNA reports.


Washington said it could not verify the claims, which are Pyongyang's first public comments on the case.

U.S. officials said they believe King crossed the border intentionally, and have declined so far to classify him as a prisoner of war.

Concerns have been growing for the welfare of the US soldier, who has not been heard from or seen since his crossing.

The US is trying to negotiate King’s release with the help of the UN Command, which runs the border area, and has a direct phone-line to the North Korean Army.

Reuters reports that North Korean investigators have also said they have concluded that King crossed deliberately and illegally, with the intent to stay in the North or in a third country, state news agency KCNA said.

"During the investigation, Travis King confessed that he had decided to come over to the DPRK as he harbored ill feeling against inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination within the US Army.

"He also expressed his willingness to seek refugee in the DPRK or a third country, saying that he was disillusioned at the unequal American society," KCNA said, using the North's official name.

King was "kept under control by soldiers of the Korean People's Army" after his crossing and the investigation was still active, the agency added.

In August, King's uncle, Myron Gates, told ABC News that his nephew, who is Black, was experiencing racism during his military deployment, and that after he spent time in a South Korean jail, he did not sound like himself.

US officials have said the North had not provided substantive responses to requests for information on King.

The Pentagon said it could not verify King's comments as reported by KCNA, and remains focused on his safe return. It did not address whether it had heard more details from North Korea.

King's mother is concerned about his safety and appealed to North Korea to treat him humanely, a spokesperson for his family said.

"Ms Gates is aware of today's 'report' from KCNA," the spokesperson, Jonathan Franks said in a statement, referring to King's mother.

"DPRK authorities are responsible for Travis King's well-being, and she continues to appeal to them to treat him humanely"

It added that King's mother had been in touch with the Army and appreciated a statement by the defence department that it remained focused on bringing him home.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A spokesman for the United Nations Command (UNC), which oversees the border village where King crossed, said he did not have anything to add to previous statements.

"Mentioning King's willingness to seek refuge in North Korea or a third country shows that it's still unclear where he wants to go," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.

King's border crossing came amid heightened animosities on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea has conducted more than 100 weapons tests since the beginning of last year, prompting the US to expand its military drills with South Korea. North Korea views US-South Korean military training as an invasion rehearsal.

King was supposed to be heading to Fort Bliss, Texas, following his release from prison in South Korea on an assault conviction.

thesicilian:
My own observation so far is, the deposed democratic leaders must have been so unpopular and unbeneficial to the masses for there to be so much support for the military take over.

And besides, I've always thought that democracy is not always the best system of government, as it's not really about merit, but popularity.

englishmart:
If competency was a crime, Tinubu would never be guilty.

NgeneUkwenu:
They should be chained and thrown into jail..

Useless panel!

ViceGovernor:
The choice before us is very simple.
Dino has gotten all the wealth he needs so that insinuation that he's coming to steal money is a fable.
He is coming to out kogi state on the world map through development in all many areas of the economy...the state is rich in resources we just need a person who will harness it... clearly it can't be the married woman who knows next to nothing about governance.

Experience is the name of the game and senator Dino has it in abundance...he's the perfect man for kogi state of today.

ViceGovernor:
So you'd rather have us vote for the married woman Bello is presenting?

The same man who said a civil servant should not have up to 400 thousand in their account 😏

That is the same barawo that Bello used to syphon funds meant for our parents salaries and pensions. Imagine a level 13 civil servant earning 9k in a month.

BigBlackPreek:
Dino Melaye for Kogi state governor

I Support

mariahAngel:
What does this one know about right decisions? A man that couldn't even keep his home together. 🙄
Frankly stating Yul, eye service and ass licking will take you nowhere.

BiafraAburi:
Who's brother? You must be daft to refer to terrorists in army uniforms as my brother. May they continue to die a million fold at the hands of their terrorist comrades until Biafra is restored.

Throwback:
So what was posted to convince you that the money is markedly bigger than N2m?

Throwback:
You will always chose to believe anything negative.

Even the bank alert that was posted online by a source showed it was N2m.

Judolisco:
2 million for holiday allowance... And dis one is saying it's nothing

IconicR:
I have suddenly dislike akpabio with that his seductive smile. Asiwaju is currently very angry with him, I don't know why he chose to be unfortunate with what he did. Please he should be very careful and not give our government a bad name.

fuckJones:
is not possible for coup to happen in Nigeria agaian

fuckJones:
masturbating nis killing you slowly chinedu

fuckJones:
chenedu stop masturbating

Niger Coupists: Nigeria Would Have Been Affected If We Didn’t Take Over

General Abdourahmane Tchiani, leader of the Niger junta, has said the military take over in his country saved Nigeria of an imminent disaster. According to…

According to Sheik Bala Lau, Chairman of Jam’atul Izalatu Bida Waikamatu Sunnah, Tchiani said this during a meeting that a Nigerian delegation of clerics had with the junta in Niamey, Niger’s capital, on Saturday.

Daily Trust had reported how Islamic scholars who met President Bola Tinubu at the presidential villa in Abuja on Friday headed for Niger.

According to Sheik Lau, Tchiani claimed the coup was well intended, adding that “they struck to starve off an imminent threat that would have affected not only Niger Republic but also Nigeria”.


It is unclear what the junta head meant as the statement did not quote to have gone into details.

But his claim came after the Defence Headquarters said some persons were instigating the military to seize power in Nigeria.

The Director, Defence Information, Tukur Gusau, a Brigadier-General, had said there were plots from different quarters to instigate members of Armed Forces of Nigeria to overthrow the present democratic administration being led by President Bola Tinubu.

According to him, the military would continue to perform its constitutional duties rather than plotting any coup against the present democratic administration, saying the armed forces of Nigeria would not be distracted.

“The reports calling on the military to interfere in our democracy is highly unpatriotic, wicked, and an attempt to distract the Armed Forces of Nigeria from performing its constitutional responsibilities,” the senior military official said.

The team that visited Niger comprised scholars from various Islamic sects in the country.

Among them were Sheik Kabiru Gombe-Secretary, Jamatul izalatul bida waikamatul sunnah,
Sheik Yakubu Musa Hassan Katsina-Director Daawah, JIBWIS, Sheik Ibrahim Dahiru Bauchi- Rep Sheik Ibrahim Bauchi and Dr Khalid Aliya- Secretary General, Jammatul Nasril Islam.

Others included Sheik Karibullah Nasiru Kabara- Leader Khadriya group Nigeria, Sheik Ahmad Abdurahman, Professor Salisu Shehu- Deputy Secretary-General Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Sheik Nasiru Abdul Muhayuid- Director Admin, JIBWIS Jos, Professor Mansur Sokoto, and Alhaji Mele Kyari.

Suspected Robber Names Police Inspector As Gun Supplier

The suspect, said to have been terrorising residents of the Obalende area in Ijebu Ode, was sighted around 12:30 am in a Toyota Camry around Ososa Ijebu driving towards Ijebu-Ode.

Suspected armed robber Akeem Owonikoko, 33, arrested by the Ogun State Police Command. (Inset: Weapons recovered from the suspect’s robbery gang)

A 33-year-old suspected armed robber, Akeem Owonikoko, has alleged that a police inspector, identified simply as Ola, supplied him and other gang members with guns, the Ogun State Police Command said on Sunday.

According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, Owonikoko was arrested along Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode Expressway during a sting operation led by the Area Commander for Ijebu Ode, ACP Omosanyi Adeniyi.

The suspect, said to have been terrorising residents of the Obalende area in Ijebu Ode, was sighted around 12:30 am in a Toyota Camry around Ososa Ijebu driving towards Ijebu-Ode.

On sighting the police team, the suspect and other members of his gang reportedly diverted their car away from the expressway, fleeing into the bush and later abandoning the car.

Owonikoko who allegedly dressed in disguise as a member of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria was thereafter arrested during a search of the area.

Searching the bags abandoned in the vehicle, the police said items recovered from the bags included 32 expended cartridges, 78 live cartridges and a locally fabricated short gun.

Others allegedly found in his residence when searched were a magnum pump action rifle, a double-barrel shotgun, one locally fabricated double-barrel pistol, a stunt pistol choker, an unregistered silver Toyota Camry, a green Toyota Sienna Bus (KNN 58 TD – OGUN), a black beret with the insigma of Aiye Confraternity, phones, and hard drugs, among others.

Similarly, one Sunday Dosunmu, 53, who was recently released from prison, was said to have been rearrested on Saturday around Leme, Abeokuta, while attempting to steal a car with his specially made fabricated key.

The Divisional Police Officer of Kemta, Abeokuta, CSP Adeniyi Adekunle, was said to have arrested Dosunmu on September 17, 2022, in the Olorunsogo area of Abeokuta while the suspect was trying to steal a car from a park along with his syndicate and was thereafter sent to jail.

The suspect was said to have been caught again by youths in that area, using fabricated master keys to unlock some cars within that area.

People who saw him were said to have raised the alarm, though he was said to have taken to his heels but the youths of the area caught up with him and handed him over to the police.

Two fabricated master keys were said to have been found in his possession, which were the instruments he was reportedly using to unlock cars and drive them away.

While lauding his officers for the crackdown on criminal elements in society, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Abiodun Alamutu, disclosed that the suspects would soon be in court to answer for their misdemeanours.

flokii:
Is Alex Otti trying to chase Northerners away from.Abia or what?.. pardon me, but is Abia developed to the extent of chasing Okadas away?