SEOUL/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -An American soldier facing disciplinary action fled across the inter-Korean border into North Korea on Tuesday and was believed to be in North Korean custody, U.S. officials said, creating a fresh crisis for Washington in its dealings with the nuclear-armed state. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed concern for the soldier, who the U.S. military in Korea said was on an orientation tour of Joint Security Area between the Koreas and "wilfully and without authorization crossed the Military Demarcation Line into the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)."
    • ScrivenerX@lemm.eeEnglish
      565·
      1 year ago

      I’m pretty sure that whatever his charges are, defecting to north Korea was a bad idea.

      If he’s lucky he’ll have a standard of living almost as high as federal prison.

      • taiphlosionEnglish
        371·
        1 year ago

        How exactly do you know this? You’ve been there or just reporting what you heard from Western news?

      • Life2SpaceEnglish
        23·
        1 year ago

        I am curious why that soldier faced disciplinary action in the first place. US soldiers aren’t exactly famous for good ethics, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he committed acts heinous enough to warrant escape.

        By the way, wouldn’t the DPRK just send him back?

        • CriticalResist8AEnglish
          13·
          1 year ago

          Actually I can believe that he’s a victim, because the US army tends to protect their actual criminals and prosecute the whistleblowers.

        • HiddenLayer5English
          8·
          1 year ago

          I am curious why that soldier faced disciplinary action in the first place. US soldiers aren’t exactly famous for good ethics, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he committed acts heinous enough to warrant escape.

          The DPRK should investigate what he did and sentence him according to their laws.

        • MarxMadnessEnglish
          2·
          1 year ago

          I linked to an article elsewhere in this thread – looks like he got in a fight with a Korean civilian and was disorderly/combative with cops when arrested.

      • freagleEnglish
        264·
        1 year ago

        I think he knew that and still made the choice. There’s a handful of US defectors in the DPRK because they were ideologically closer to communism than imperialism, so maybe he’ll fare as well as he hopes.

        • rjs001English
          151·
          1 year ago

          deleted by creator

          • freagleEnglish
            63·
            1 year ago

            Ideology changes over time. Being in the military is often a catalyst for big changes to ideology.

      • Black AOCEnglish
        173·
        1 year ago

        I mean, the only parts of Amerika that live better than the pen are the gateds on the coasts, and the former plantations; so I don’t know what you’re going on about there… I categorically refuse to denounce homeboy’s defection unless it comes out he was wanted for like-- sex crimes or smth. In which case, light him up on sight.

        • MarxMadnessEnglish
          21·
          1 year ago

          This is really underestimating how bad U.S. prisons are, and while god damn America and all, it’s still a country with a high standard of living for most people.

          We have to be in touch with the actual material conditions of people, and “only a few places are better than federal custody” just isn’t that.