A country with closed borders and few diplomatic channels... talking to North Korea is tricky at the best of times. Now the stakes are even higher with a young American soldier in their hands. How is the US going about securing his release?
The fate of Travis King, a US soldier who crossed into North Korea, remains unknown and experts say the US is at a critical stage to try and negotiate his return home.
The key challenge is America has never had an official diplomatic relationship with North Korea.
As a result, the US relies on a network of backchannels to negotiate the return of citizens detained in the country.
It is believed the 23-year-old soldier is being detained and questioned by North Korean authorities.
Pte 2nd Class King was last seen a week ago running across the demilitarised zone separating North and South Korea. Tensions have since escalated in the region, with North Korea firing two ballistic missiles into the sea late Monday after a US nuclear-powered submarine was stationed in the South.
"All sides are trying to understand what happened and what to do," said Mickey Bergman, executive director of the Richardson Center for Global Diplomacy.
Mr Bergman, who has spent nearly 20 years negotiating to return US citizens from hostile nations, said the best chance at releasing a prisoner is right after they are detained. This is when they are likely being interrogated by the country's officials but before they have been charged with a crime, like spying.
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