"House Foreign Affairs Chair Expresses Concern for U.S. Soldier Defecting to North Korea"

The chair of the House Foreign Affairs panel, Rep. Michael McCaul, expressed concern for the American soldier, Army Pvt. 2nd Class Travis King, who crossed into North Korea last week. McCaul fears that North Korea, like other countries, will exact a price for taking an American soldier captive. King had crossed the border via the Demilitarized Zone without authorization, after facing disciplinary charges and being imprisoned in South Korea. The situation comes at a sensitive time as North Korea launched cruise missiles in response to the docking of an American nuclear submarine in South Korea. McCaul emphasized the importance of projecting strength to deter aggression and expressed hope for King's safe return.