Detained US soldier Travis King has “expressed willingness” to seek refuge in North Korea after crossing the border last month, Pyongyang has claimed.
North Korean state media said King decided to enter the country’s territory after “harbouring ill feeling against the US army”.
King, 23, went into the North while on a civilian tour of the Joint Security Area (JSA) – the heavily fortified border between the two Koreas.
US officials have said they believe he crossed the border intentionally.