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A US soldier is being held in North Korea after crossing the border from South Korea without authorisation

He was reportedly in the process of being transported back to the US for disciplinary reasons before he turned around at the airport and joined a Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) border tour

The US State and Defense Departments have said that during the tour he crossed the border "wilfully, of his own volition", but did not say he defected

Officials are trying to notify the soldier's next of kin, the White House said

Meanwhile multiple news outlets have reported that the man's name is Travis King, with the rank of private second class in the US Army

The Pentagon says it is concerned for the soldier's welfare and is "closely monitoring and investigating the situation"