North Korea says US soldier Travis King expressed willingness to seek refuge

North Korea on Wednesday said an American soldier who had crossed into North Korea on July 18 has admitted to illegally intruding into the North and expressed a willingness to seek refuge in the North or a third country, state media reported.

The soldier, Private Travis T. King, dashed into the North while on a civilian tour of the Joint Security Area (JSA) on the heavily fortified border between the two Koreas. U.S. officials have said they believe King crossed the border intentionally.