SEOUL, Aug 16 (Reuters) - North Korea concluded that Travis King wants refuge there or in another country because of “inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination” in the U.S. and the military, state media said on Wednesday, Pyongyang’s first public acknowledgement of King’s crossing from South Korea on July 18.
Most likely he just didn’t want to return to be disceplined and likely face a dishonorable discharge. Seems like he was having issues in Korea, according to the article at least.