For the first time in decades a US soldier is believed to be in North Korean custody. That is a scenario that could cause a diplomatic headache for the United States while it, alongside ally South Korea, tries to keep pressure on Pyongyang as the isolated nation ramps up its ballistic missile tests and bellicose rhetoric.

The US Army has identified the soldier who crossed the demarcation line into North Korea on Tuesday as Travis King.

US military officials say King “willfully and without authorization” crossed into North Korea while taking a civilian tour of the Joint Security Area, a small collection of buildings inside the 150-mile-long demilitarized zone (DMZ) that has separated North and South Korea since the end of the Korean War in 1953.

US Forces Korea spokesperson Col. Isaac Taylor said in a statement said that they believe he is currently in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea custody and are working with their Korean People’s Army counterparts to resolve this incident. 

Here’s what we know about King so far:

King is a cavalry scout who joined the military in January 2021. At the time of his rotation in South Korea, King was assigned to the 6th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division out of Fort Bliss, Texas, according to Army spokesperson Bryce Dubee.

US officials did not say how long King had been in South Korea, but at some point he faced disciplinary action for assault and spent 50 days in a detention facility.

Although Relations between the United States and North Korea have been fraught for decades, but things are particularly difficult right now.