North Korea has given its first comments about U.S. Army Pvt. Travis King, who crossed the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in July and entered the country, prompting his mother to request a phone call with him to confirm his well-being in the secretive communist dictatorship.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), citing an official North Korean investigation, said Wednesday (Aug. 16) that King illegally entered the country to seek refuge in North Korea or a third country because King said he “was disillusioned at the unequal American society” and racial discrimination in the Army, the Associated Press reports.

King’s mother, Claudia Gates, responded to this news about her son.

"Ms. Gates is aware of today’s 'report' from KCNA. DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea or North Korea) authorities are responsible for Travis’ well-being, and she continues to appeal to them to treat him humanely. She’s a mom worried about her son and would be grateful for a phone call from him," a statement from the family’s spokesman Jonathan Franks said, according to NBC News.

U.S. officials said they could not verify the comments KCNA attributed to King.

“We remain focused on his safe return. The department’s priority is to bring Private King home, and that we are working through all available channels to achieve that outcome,” Defense Department spokesman Lt. Col. Martin J. Meiners said, The New York Times reported.

Gates said she was in contact with U.S. military officials since KCNA’s report about her son, and she “appreciates DoD’s statement that it remains focused on bringing Travis home.”

North Korea expert Soo Kim believes the report is nothing but propaganda tailored to achieve the regime’s goals.

“As for King’s release, his fate rests in North Korea’s hands. Perhaps the regime will try to ‘bargain’ King’s life in exchange for financial concessions from the U.S. More than likely, negotiations won’t be easy, and terms will be dictated by Pyongyang,” she told the AP.

U.S. officials said King, 23, joined a group of tourists who were visiting the Joint Security Area in Panmunjom when he crossed the border on July 19 from South Korea, where he was stationed.

Before crossing into North Korea, King had just completed a jail sentence in South Korea for assault and other offenses. After his release, military personnel escorted King to a commercial airport where he was scheduled to board a flight to the United States for administrative separation for discharge from the Army. King, however, didn’t board the flight and managed to make his way to the DMZ.