Because I want to understand what’s going on in the world beyond the blaring headlines about the crises du jour, I have been seeking out podcasts that give me tips about what’s happening. Today I want to tell you about the BBC Global News Podcast. This half-hour podcast comes out twice a week and covers important emerging and significant international stories. I listened to the first 10 minutes or so of today’s episode while I was taking my car to be serviced, and learned some things. Here’s a link to the podcast if you want to give it a listen.
The first story featured North Korea’s release of US soldier Travis King, who fled from South to North Korea in July. I remember hearing that he had fled, and I recall something about his reasons for deserting (racial discrimination in the US Army), but I didn’t know much beyond that. In less than five minutes, here’s what I learned:
He did indeed claim that discrimination was the reason for his defection.
He traveled to North Korea through the so-called “truce village” of Panmunjom, the only portion of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) where the military forces of North and South Korea stand face-to-face. This area is used by the two Koreas for diplomatic engagements. This is where TFG (aka reality TV host) stepped across the Military Demarcation Line in 2019.
North Korea does not have diplomatic relations with South Korea, so negotiations with the US government for his release had to take place with the assistance of China and (of all things) Sweden. Most travel to North Korea takes place through China, not through South Korea.
North Korea probably freed him because they had already achieved their desired propaganda angle from his defection (the US is a terrible place etc. etc.) and didn’t expect to achieve anything else so they were willing to get rid of him.
The US State Department says that no concessions were made to North Korea for King’s release.
North Korea probably believes that releasing King would generate a bit of good will that the regime could exploit in future interactions with the US.
The American public generally hears about events like this briefly as they are happening, but there is seldom any follow-up or real context. We remember, for example, the capture and subsequent release of WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was imprisoned by Russia for 10 months by Russian customs officials after she was found in possession of medically prescribed hash oil, which is illegal in Russia. The negotiations for her release caught public attention because of her previous protests during the playing of the national anthem at her team’s basketball games, because of the seemingly trivial reason for her detention, because Russia continues to hold other Americans while releasing Griner, and because her release was part of a prisoner exchange in which the US released a notorious Russian arms dealer was allowed to go back to Russia. This led to a raft of accusations about how Biden is allowing the US to appear weak to the rest of the world and so forth.
The release of Travis King did not generate the full-blown media attention that Griner’s release achieved. I imagine Travis will no longer have to worry about racial discrimination within the US military.
What I also found interesting in this story was the use of the word “expel.” However, after reading your insights, Karen, expel makes sense when there is no perceived use or value related to a person or thing. How very sad.
He won't be in the Army for long.