The 23-year-old also expressed his willingness to seek refuge in North Korea or a third country, saying he “was disillusioned at the unequal American society,” the North Korean official news agency, KCN, said in a statement.

The statement has so far only been published by KCNA.

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 Private King’s release with the help of the UN Command, which runs the border area, and has a direct phoneline to the North Korean army.

Responding to the North Korean report on Wednesday, a Pentagon official said their priority was to have Private King brought home safely “through all available channels”.

Related posts:

I’m used to Negative things Nigerians say about my late husband – Former first lady Maryam Abacha says How Emefiele Ordered My Detention For Three Months In 2019 After Exposing His Financial Corruption – Whistleblower Student Loan Act will send many students out of school – ASUU complains We have no expenses to cut down – Senate says 65-year-old woman who went to Mexico for skin-tightening surgery wakes up ‘disfigured’ with breast implants and a Brazilian butt lift she did not want 2 year old Child fighting for life after being mercilessly be@ten by mother’s friend who was babysitting 12-year-old girl suffers vaginal injuries and contracts STD after being repeatedly raped by three men in Imo ‘Can’t even describe how cool it is’ – First human with Elon Musk’s Neuralink brain chip demonstrates moving cursor with his mind (video)