Factbox-US soldier in North Korea not the first to flee to the secretive state

A traffic sign is seen on the Grand Unification Bridge which leads to the truce village Panmunjom, just south of the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, in Paju, July 19, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

(Reuters) - The U.S. military identified a soldier who made an unauthorised crossing into North Korea on Tuesday as Private Travis T. King and said he was facing disciplinary action before he fled during a tour of the heavily fortified border area.

He is believed to be in custody in the North, but his exact motive and other details remain unclear.