A US soldier, Private Second Class Travis King, who was being sent back to the United States over disciplinary problems, crossed into North Korea after fleeing the airport and joining a civilian tour group heading for the Demilitarised Zone. He broke away from the tour and crossed the border into North Korea, where he is believed to have been taken into custody by North Korean officials. Little is known about his motive or current status. US officials are continuing to seek information on the matter and are working with counterparts in South Korea and Sweden. Private King's family is struggling to understand what led him to cross the border, with some suggesting mental health issues.
The United States says it has no fresh news on the US soldier who crossed into North Korea after fleeing the airport and joining a tour group, in a bizarre incident that has baffled authorities in Washington.
Private Second Class Travis King was in the process of being sent back to the United States over disciplinary problems when he made an unauthorised crossing into North Korea.
Instead of boarding a flight for Texas, Private King slipped out of the airport and joined a civilian tour group headed for the the Demilitarised Zone that divides South and North Korea.
He broke away from the tour of the border village of Panmunjon on Tuesday and raced over the frontier where it is believed he was taken into custody by North Korean officials.
According to South Korean police, Private King had spent around two months in a local prison on assault charges, and was released on July 10.
Little is known about the serviceman's motive or present status in the reclusive nation.
Pyongyang state media are yet to comment on the case.
US officials continue to seek information
"We here at the State Department, and the UN, are all continuing to work together on this matter to ascertain information about the well-being and whereabouts of Private King," said State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.
Private King somehow got to Panmunjon and crossed the border "wilfully and without authorisation", US officials said.
Mr Miller said the State Department was continuing to gather information on the case, but knew nothing of his current condition.
"I want to be very clear that the administration has and will continue to actively work to ensure his safety and return him home to his family," he said.
He said the Pentagon has reached out to contacts in the North Korean military for information on Private King's situation, but there had not been a response.
Mr Miller said Washington, which does not have diplomatic relations with Pyongyang, has other channels to communicate.
He mentioned the State Department is engaging counterparts in South Korea and Sweden to get information on King.