The mother of a US soldier reportedly detained by North Korean authorities on suspicion of entering North Korea without authorization has spoken out, denying allegations that her son entered the country on purpose.

Claudine Gates: ‘I can’t believe Travis would do something like that’ Said ABC News coverage on Tuesday night. When she told Gates that U.S. authorities had identified her son as a 23-year-old Private, she added: Travis King told her a few days ago that she was going back to Fort Bliss.

Prior to reports of his detention in North Korea, King was being held in a South Korean detention center following an incident with a local resident, according to ABC. After King served 47 days in jail, he was reportedly placed under surveillance at a US military base in South Korea.

While North Korea remains silent about US soldiers crossing its heavily fortified border, Private First Class Travis King’s mother told ABC News she was shocked and simply said, “Come back home.” I want it,” he said. https://t.co/ECFEdfVH36

— The Associated Press (@AP) July 19, 2023

The newspaper reported that Mr. King underwent departure formalities from the US military base on July 17 and was escorted to the customs checkpoint at Incheon International Airport, with a final destination of Fort Bliss. A U.S. official quoted by ABC said that upon arrival at Fort Bliss, King was expected to face “a pending alien conviction lawsuit for administrative separation.”

Instead, King reportedly exited the terminal and found himself on a DMZ tour. (Related article: ‘Bad jokes’: North Korean detained soldiers cross border laughing after fleeing guards, eyewitness says)

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said at a news conference on Tuesday, “We are in the very early stages of this event, so there is still much to learn,” ABC reported. “What we do know is that one of the military personnel on the tour intentionally crossed the Military Demarcation Line without authorization. We are closely monitoring and investigating the situation and are working to notify the soldier’s next of kin and address this incident.”

Gates told ABC that she just wants her son back.