A US soldier who fled to North Korea in July has been released. On Wednesday, US officials said he is under their custody.

Private Travis King was stationed in South Korea and he ran across the border into the North after joining a civilian tour of the Joint Security Area at the Demilitarized Zone that separates the two Koreas.

He had previously spent time in prison in South Korea for assault and was supposed to return to the US to face further discipline.

On Wednesday, North Korean authorities said King felt the US Army's treatment of him was "inhuman" and that he grew "disillusioned." They had found him guilty of "illegally intruding."

Officials with the Biden administration said King is in "good spirits and good health."

US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller added that North Korea refused to communicate over the matter but stressed that the US made no concessions to secure his release. He thanked diplomats from Sweden and China for their help.

Miller said, "I do not see this as a sign of some breakthrough. I think it's a one-off with them be willing to return this private."

The Defense Department still has to decide what will happen to King.