US soldier believed to be detained by North Korea after "willfully" crossing heavily armed military border

Washington DC [US], July 18 (ANI): A US soldier is believed to be detained by North Korean authorities after he crossed the military border “willfully and without authorization,” an official said adding that he working with Korean People’s Army to resolve this incident, CNN reported. 
“We believe he is currently in [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] custody and is working with our [Korean People’s Army] counterparts to resolve this incident,” US Forces Korea spokesperson Col. Isaac Taylor said on Tuesday. 
The official also stated that the soldier had been facing disciplinary action by the US military and was set to be sent back to the United States.
The service member is a junior enlisted soldier who was assigned to US Forces Korea and had been on the Joint Security Area (JSA) tour as a civilian. 
 
There was no indication the soldier was trying to defect, a separate US official said, as per CNN.
“A US National on a JSA orientation tour crossed, without authorization, the Military Demarcation Line into the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). We believe he is currently in DPRK custody and is working with our KPA counterparts to resolve this incident,” the UNC said.
 A US official told CNN the soldier appeared to cross the line voluntarily. US officials say they are waiting to confirm his identity until his next of kin is notified, reported CNN.
The prospect of a US soldier being held in North Korean military custody comes at a time when both countries are going through military tension. 
Earlier, North Korea accused the US of illegally flying over the economic zone eight times and warned of counter-action, state media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
Kim Yo Jong, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's sister and a key ruling party official, in a press statement said, "In case of repeated illegal intrusion, the US forces will experience a very critical flight."
She also claimed that South Korea had again impudently taken the lead in denying the encroachment on North Korea's sovereignty and still the nation assert that it was a "normal flight of the 'ROK' and the US."
"The strategic reconnaissance plane of the US Air Force illegally intruded into the economic water zone of the DPRK side in the East Sea of Korea eight times in the sky above the sea of 435 km east of Thongchon of Kangwon Province~276 km southeast of Uljin of North Kyongsang Province from 5:15 to 13:10 on July 10, to commit an aerial espionage act," Kim Yo Jong said.
However, the Pentagon earlier brushed aside Pyongyang's accusations of airspace violations and said the US military had adhered to international law.
"The United States, as always, remains committed to safely and responsibly flying, sailing, and operating anywhere that international law allows and alongside our allies and partners," Sabrina Singh, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary said in a media briefing.
The US, from time to time, had condemned North Korea's ballistic missile launch. Us said that they condemned the destabilizing ballistic missile launches of North Korea, which violate relevant UN Security Council resolutions and pose a grave threat to international peace and security. (ANI)