The soldier was being escorted back to the US for disciplinary reasons before they turned around at the airport and joined a border tour, an official tells CBS News

A witness who was part of the same tour group tells CBS the soldier laughed before running towards North Korea

[–] 1bluepixel@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I have to believe he wanted to do something of a "suicide by enemy fire." No way he was up for the kind of detainment and "enhanced interrogation" they're gonna put him through.

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I have to wonder if they might actually decide to keep him. Somebody has to play the bad guy in their propaganda films, and the Korean war leftovers they have used are getting really old.

[–] AlwaysNowNeverNotMe@kbin.social 3 points 2 years ago

They will either turn him into a propaganda showpiece (eg everything the west says about this paradise is a lie) or he will be imprisoned until he dies to some brutal shit like untreated kidney stones.

[–] cybervseas@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Sounds kind of like he is suffering from mental illness.

[–] ikiru@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

US soldier originally from Wisconsin.

Mental illness checks out.

[–] hglman@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago

Either he's an alcoholic, or he's in withdrawal from alcohol.

[–] Gork@lemmy.ml 0 points 2 years ago

The North Koreans aren't the type to joke around though. He's almost certainly going to be tortured, and he may never return home unless there is a prisoner swap.

[–] Admetus@sopuli.xyz 8 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Thought it was already mentioned he was facing disciplinary action? Probably young and stupid.

[–] Ab_intra@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago

Yeah, propper nut.

[–] LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 years ago

Likely thought they were going to shoot him and was attempting suicide before being dishonorable discharged.

[–] VisualCicada@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago

America's best aren't doing tours at the Korean border

[–] EnderWi99in@kbin.social 6 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Just saw a youtube video about the 4 other guys who did this and were held for like 40 years and seemingly greatly greatly regretted having made that choice.

[–] sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 years ago

Yeah, I hear N. Korea's immigration policy isn't that great.