Travis King, a US Army Private, stunned onlookers and officials when he ran across the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) into North Korea during a tour. King's mother, Claudine Gates, expressed disbelief, stating she couldn't imagine her son doing such a thing. She last spoke with him a few days prior, when he mentioned returning to Fort Bliss, Texas.

North Korea has remained silent regarding King's status. An Army spokesperson confirmed King joined the service in January 2021 and serves as a cavalry scout with the 4th Infantry Division.

A witness on the tour, Sarah Leslie, recounted seeing a man dressed in black sprinting towards North Korea. Initially, she assumed it was a stunt for a TikTok video. However, the man, later identified as King in civilian clothing, continued running without stopping. Soldiers pursued King while the tour group was ushered into a building, leaving everyone in a state of shock.

This undated photo shows Travis King, the American soldier who officials say is being detained in North Korea. (Facebook)

Tourists stand near a border station at Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone in Paju, South Korea, on Tuesday, July 18. Not long after this photo was taken, according to AP, Travis King bolted across the border and became the first known American detained in the North in nearly five years. (AP/Sarah Jane Leslie)

A US Forces Korea spokesperson confirmed King crossed the Military Demarcation Line without authorization and is believed to be in North Korean custody. They are working to resolve the situation.

Prior to this incident, King spent two months in a South Korean detention facility following a physical altercation with locals. During his detention, he expressed reluctance to return to the US. Released on July 10, he was scheduled to return to Fort Bliss, where he potentially faced disciplinary action and discharge.

Map shows where a U.S. soldier reportedly crossed the Military Demarcation Line and was detained by North Korea, Tuesday, July 18, 2023. (Fox News)

King also faced previous assault allegations in South Korea. In February, he was fined for assaulting an individual and damaging a police vehicle in Seoul last October. A separate assault charge involving a nightclub incident was dismissed due to the victim's unwillingness to pursue punishment.