Detained US soldier Travis King entered North Korea because of “inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination within the US Army”, the communist country’s state media has claimed.

He has also “expressed willingness” to seek refuge in North Korea after crossing the border last month, Pyongyang has said in its first comments on the story.

King was “disillusioned at the unequal American society”, KCNA claimed.

North Korean investigators have concluded that he crossed from South Korea deliberately and illegally, intending to stay in the North or in a third country, KCNA said.

King, 23, was reportedly facing disciplinary action by the US military when he crossed over while on a civilian tour of the Joint Security Area (JSA) – the heavily fortified border between the two Koreas.

He was also said to have been struggling with the death of his young cousin, according to US media reports.

He is the first American to be detained in North Korea for almost five years.

The US Pentagon said it could not verify King’s alleged comments.

“The department’s priority is to bring Private King home. We are working through all available channels to achieve that outcome,” a Pentagon spokesperson said.

King has been declared AWOL, according to US officials. The punishment for being absent without leave can include forfeiture of pay or dishonourable discharge.

US officials have also said they believe he crossed the border intentionally.

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The Pentagon says it is focused on Travis King’s ‘safe return’

KCNA said in a statement: “During the investigation, Travis King confessed that he had decided to come over to the DPRK as he harboured ill feeling against inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination within the US Army.

“He also expressed his willingness to seek refugee in the DPRK or a third country, saying that he was disillusioned at the unequal American society.”

Last month, King’s sister said he was “not the type to get into trouble“.

His sister, Jaqueda Gates, told NBC News: “This is crazy. I was just talking to him, literally 48 hours ago (before the JSA incident).

“My brother, he’s not the type to get into trouble like that. It all just sounds made up.”