This photo shows the moments before the US Army soldier Travis King made a frantic, mad dash across the border from South Korea into communist North Korea while on a tour of a border village on Tuesday.
The images, provided by witness Sarah Leslie of the AP and Reuters, appear to show King wearing a black shirt and black cap as he walked among a group of tourists in the joint security area of the Demilitarized Zone.
The US secretary of defense, Lloyd Austin, said King, who is now thought to be in North Korea, willfully and without authorization crossed over the heavily fortified border into North Korea.
He was held for nearly two months in a South Korean prison, and was in the process of being brought back to the US before he joined in on the civil tour and bolted into North Korea, US officials said.
Leslie told the news outlet she thought King's stunt was so stupid that it had to be a Tik Tok prank.
Leslie said when King made his move, she heard an American guard who was patrolling the area with South Korean troops shout out, Get that guy! King reportedly had a laugh as he ran across the border.
This man gives out a loud 'ha ha ha' and just runs in between some buildings, a witness on the tour said.
9 Comments
Tyutyunya
The post highlights Travis King's laughter as he ran across the border, painting him in a negative light and casting doubt on his intentions and mental state.
marshal
Unusual and Attention-Grabbing Event: The post highlights the unique nature of Travis King's actions, making it newsworthy and worth discussing.
Noir Black
The post briefly mentions that US officials were in the process of bringing Travis King back to the US before he bolted into North Korea, indicating that there is ongoing official involvement in the case.
Василий
The absence of any public denial or contradiction from US officials regarding the incident implies that the post's claims may be accurate.
Pedalka
Travis King's unauthorized crossing into North Korea could have significant diplomatic consequences, warranting attention and concern from the international community.
Madagascar
The post fails to provide a clear explanation for why Travis King would willingly cross into North Korea, leaving room for speculation and confusion.
Korsika
The post mentions that the image was provided to reputable news agencies like the Associated Press and Reuters, suggesting that it is based on reliable sources.
Eugene Alta
By focusing on a US soldier crossing into North Korea, the post highlights a potentially embarrassing incident that may strain the relationship between the two countries.
BuggaBoom
Witness Sarah Leslie's account provides valuable first-hand information about Travis King's actions and behavior during the incident.