Line 38

The Korean Demilitarized Zone along the 38th parallel, Panmunjom (판문점), is located in the central-western part of the Korean Peninsula, about 5 kilometers south of the 38th parallel. It was once an obscure little place. On July 27, 1953, the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed here, making Panmunjom world-famous. [1]

After the victory of the War of Resistance against Japan, the dividing line between North and South Korea was the 38th parallel. After the Korean War, the Chinese People's Volunteer Army and the Korean People's Army pushed the dividing line further south to its current location at Panmunjom. Panmunjom is a witness to the Korean War and the division of the Korean Peninsula, as well as the most sensitive frontline position between the two Koreas today.

The United Nations Command in South Korea reported on the 18th that an American tourist had crossed the military demarcation line into North Korea while visiting the Joint Security Area at Panmunjom on the Korean Demilitarized Zone that day and was arrested by the North Korean side.

According to U.S. media reports, a U.S. defense official said the detained American is a soldier stationed in South Korea who had previously faced disciplinary action from the U.S. military and was originally scheduled to be sent back to the U.S.

The U.S. Forces Korea stated that the soldier is in North Korean custody, and the U.S. is working with North Korea to seek a resolution.

U.S. soldiers standing guard in the Demilitarized Zone on the Korean border. File photo. Source: NBC News

According to a report by the Global Times,The American involved has been identified as U.S. soldier Travis King, who was facing disciplinary action.The U.S. Forces Korea stated that the soldier “intentionally and without authorization crossed the military demarcation line into North Korea,” and the U.S. military is “working with the relevant North Korean military authorities to resolve the incident.”

The report stated,U.S. officials are puzzled by the soldier’s reasons for fleeing to North Korea and have described the incident as baffling.Officials said the U.S. soldier was originally set to be sent back to the U.S. due to disciplinary reasons, but after passing through airport security, for some reason, he decided to run away and also chose to join a tour group visiting the Joint Security Area at Panmunjom. The report noted that analysts said it appears the soldier voluntarily went to North Korea, which is significant—“this is not a matter of arrest, but whether North Korea will accept him as a defector.”The last American who attempted to defect to North Korea was denied and sent back.