Sweden fixed violent criminal American soldier from North Korea
Published 28 September 2023 at 06.02
FOREIGN. African-American soldier Travis King fled to North Korea after committing violent crimes against civilians in South Korea, where he was stationed. Now he has been returned to the USA - and Sweden played a "decisive role" in making this possible, according to information to SVT.

Travis King was stationed in South Korea last year and soon began attacking and abusing South Koreans he came across.

When he was arrested on one of the occasions in October 2022, he kicked the police car and shouted obscenities about South Koreans.

After being released from prison custody, on July 18 this year he made his way to Korea's demilitarized zone where, according to witnesses, he ran across the border into North Korea, laughing.

Blamed on racism
North Korea's official news agency confirmed on August 15 that King was in the country. It said he had gone there to seek asylum because he believed he had been subjected to "inhumane treatment and racial discrimination in the US military". He also allegedly complained about "the unequal American society".

Great efforts have since been made on the part of the West to bring the violent criminal soldier "home" to the United States.

Since Sweden has an embassy in North Korea, it acts as a protectorate for other countries. In this case too, the Swedes are said to have been of great help.

- We have had close contact with Sweden almost daily, states "a high-ranking official at the US State Department" to SVT.

One of the officials who had contact with says that the release of King required that "the Swedes went into North Korea", but what that means "he did not want to elaborate", writes SVT.

- We are extremely grateful to Sweden's government, says one of the officials according to SVT.