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US soldier Travis King has arrived back in the US after being expelled from North Korea following his two-month detention.
He was shown on video disembarking from a plane in San Antonio, Texas, at about 01:30 eastern time (05:30 GMT).
The 23-year-old reconnaissance specialist illegally crossed into North Korea from South Korea in July.
Before arriving home, Pvt King was transferred into US custody in China and then flown to a US military base.
He was detained by Pyongyang until being returned to American custody.
US media captured the moments he arrived on US soil, as images appear to show Pvt King being escorted by officials who met him on the ground at the base.
While detained by Pyongyang, North Korean media said he had fled into its territory because of “inhuman treatment” and racism within the US military.
Pvt King is expected to be taken to the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, according to defence officials speaking to US media.
Officials say he will be medically evaluated before any disciplinary action is taken.
On Wednesday, a senior administration official said that after months of “intense diplomacy”, Pvt King returned to US hands and his family was contacted.
“We can confirm Pvt King is very happy to be on his way home, and he is very much looking forward to reuniting with his family,” the official added.
His mother Claudine Gates said in a statement via her spokesman that she would “forever be grateful” to the US Army and its partners “for a job well done”.
His release deal was brokered by Swedish officials, who travelled to North Korea and brought Pvt King to its border with China.
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The US and North Korea do not have diplomatic relations and Sweden’s embassy in Pyongyang has historically negotiated on Washington’s behalf.
On Wednesday, a Swedish embassy spokesman confirmed that Stockholm had acted “within its role as a protective power” for the US in North Korea during the negotiations.
Once in China, Pvt King was met by US ambassador Nicholas Burns who said Beijing played a “constructive role” but “did not mediate” the release.
Pvt King was on duty with the US Army when he crossed the North Korean border.
He had been in the Army since January 2021 and was based in South Korea as part of a rotation.
Prior to sprinting across, Pvt King had served two months in detention in South Korea on charges that he assaulted two people and kicked a police car.
He was released from custody on 10 July – eight days before he crossed the country’s border with Pyongyang.
