For North Korea, US defectors can be a propaganda win, but a logistical pain

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

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea is likely to milk the border crossing by a U.S. soldier for propaganda purposes but will probably not be able to gain political leverage, analysts and a former North Korean diplomat said.

Pyongyang may even end up paying a lot to keep U.S. Army Private Travis King in a gilded cage, they said.