The unauthorized crossing of an American soldier into North Korea has caused the U.S. soldier to be concerned about the soldier’s fate, leading to a new crisis in relations with the nuclear-armed state.

The soldier, identified as Private Travis T. King, crossed the inter-Korean border without authorization during an orientation tour of the Joint Security Area (JSA) on Tuesday. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that they believe he is in North Korean custody, and efforts are underway to investigate the situation and inform the soldier’s next of kin.

North Korea’s state media has not mentioned the incident, and their mission to the United Nations has not responded to requests for comment.

This incident occurs during a period of heightened tension on the Korean peninsula, with the arrival of a U.S. nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine and North Korea’s test launch of two ballistic missiles into the sea.

North Korea has been conducting tests of increasingly powerful missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, including a recent solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile.

The U.S. military, represented by Colonel Isaac Taylor, is working with their North Korean counterparts to resolve the situation. The United Nations Command (UNC), responsible for security in the border area, has used hotlines to communicate with North Korea regarding the incident.

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