SEOUL, South Korea (NEWSnet/AP) — North Korea said Wednesday that a U.S. soldier who bolted across the heavily armed Korean border last month did so after becoming disillusioned with the inequality of American society and racial discrimination in its Army.

It was North Korea’s first official confirmation of the detention of Pvt. Travis King, who had served in South Korea and sprinted into the North while on a civilian tour of a border village on July 18. He became the first American confirmed to be detained in the North in nearly five years.

When the 23-year-old joined the civilian tour and crossed the border, he was supposed to be heading to Fort Bliss, Texas, following his release from prison in South Korea on an assault conviction.

The statements allegedly made by King from state media and cannot be independently confirmed.

The U.S. has expressed concern about his well-being and North Korea said an investigation into King would continue. 

Experts say Pyongyang may try to ‘bargain’ King’s life in exchange for financial concessions from the U.S.

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