North Korea’s official news agency reported that King crossed because he harboured ‘ill feeling against inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination’ within the US Army.

North Korea says it will deport US soldier Travis King, who ran across the border from South Korea during a tour in July.

The North’s official Korean Central News Agency said an investigation of King had been completed. It claimed that King confessed that "he illegally entered the territory of the Republic out of antipathy toward inhumane abuse and racial discrimination within the U.S. military, and disillusionment with the unequal American society."

The report from North Korea state media did not say when King would be released, or to where. Neither the U.S. State Department nor the U.S. Department of Defense have commented on the announcement.

King, who has been a cavalry scout with the US army since 2021, was serving in South Korea as part of his rotation.

Following assault charges over a conflict with locals, King spent 47 days at a Korean detention facility, from which he was released in July, US officials confirmed.

The 23-year-old Private was set to face military disciplinary measures in Fort Bliss, Texas, but managed to escape his guards on the way back to the US.

Dressed in civilian clothes, King joined a tourist group on their trip to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) at the North Korean border. In the village of Panmunjom, which is split between North and South Korea, he crossed the border on July 18, according to Social Media reports of other members of the tour group.

Authorities in Pyongyang did not give any information on Kings whereabouts for several weeks after he crossed the border.

In August, they said he was being held and questioned about the circumstances of his entering the country.

North Korea subsequently stated King had admitted to illegally crossing the border and claimed he "was disillusioned at the unequal American society."

The US said at the time they could not verify the reports and that it would "remain focused on his safe return."