To the us, and made his way to the Demilitarized Zone which separates the two koreas before running to the northern side. Pyongyang has now claimed private king was driven to come to north korea because of inhuman maltreatment and Racial Discrimination while serving in the us army. And the State News Agency goes on to claim that private king has admitted to crossing illegally, and has asked for refuge in the north. It is the first time north korea has knowledge detaining the soldier. The claims have not been verified, and in a Press Briefing the white house has urged people to be mindful of where the statement was made when considering its validity. We when considering its validity. Would caution everyo consider we would caution everyone to consider the source here. That is incredibly important as we are killing the report. We cant verify the comments that are being attributed to private king obviously. We remain focused on his safe return for the past several weeks and we are working through all available channels to achieve that outcome. None of it, it doesnt change anything. We want to make sure he gets home safely, he returns to his family safely and thats going to be our focus. A spokesperson for private kings family, jonathan franks, gave bbc news his reaction to the statement which was released by north korea. I dont know exactly what to make of that statement. Parts of it didnt make a lot of sense. I would of it didnt make a lot of sense. Iwould hesitate, i would caution folks against taking this at face value. North koreans have a long history of trying to exploit racial issues in the United States and we, not having heard from travis, we dont know. Have you heard from Private Travis King . Do you have any sense of his condition and how concerned are you about his safety . Concerned are you about his safe . ~. ,. ,. ,. , safety . We have not heard from him and no safety . We have not heard from him and no reports safety . We have not heard from him and no reports on safety . We have not heard from him and no reports on his him and no reports on his condition. Something about that statement suggested that perhaps, to me at least, hes been not treated terribly but we dont know and yes, his mother is terribly concerned and she wants her son back. Flan and she wants her son back. Can ou cive and she wants her son back. Can you give us and she wants her son back. Can you give us any and she wants her son back. Can you give us any more insight into the way private king might have felt that he was treated when he was a member of the us military because we did hear some hints of that obviously from the north koreans. We also heard something similar from his family earlier. His family earlier. Travis had sent a text his family earlier. Travis had sent a text to his family earlier. Travis had sent a text to an his family earlier. Travis had sent a text to an uncle sent a text to an uncle indicated he was experiencing racism. He did not elaborate so we dont know from whom, what kind of racism, there is a lot that we dont know. Sly would not necessarily see our statement as confirming the north koreans in any way. Private king of course, he wasnt a bit of trouble with south korean when he was stationed there, hed been an south korean prison. Was sent home to the United States he decided to cross the border. Do you have any sense how much those factors could have played into his decision to cross that border into north korea . We dont, border into north korea . We dont. And border into north korea . We dont. And i border into north korea . Dont, and i hesitate tojust guess outright but i will tell you that he had done his time in south korea. He was clear cleared by the south korean courts, he wasjust cleared by the south korean courts, he was just going home to texas to discharge from the military. To texas to discharge from the milita. ,. To texas to discharge from the milita. ,. ,. ,. , military. How aware do you think private military. How aware do you think private king military. How aware do you think private king might. Military. How aware do you l think private king might have been of the dangers of crossing the border of . He was a core stationed in south korea but anyone who is an American Military member could easily be jailed or put on trial if they were to cross this very heavily militarised border between the two countries. I militarised border between the two countries. Two countries. I dont know what he two countries. I dont know what he knew two countries. I dont know what he knew what two countries. I dont know what he knew what he two countries. I dont know. What he knew what he thought two countries. I dont know what he knew what he thought at the time because i never actually got to speak to him but certainly i would imagine that all us troops operating in the republic of korea, south korea, are briefed on the dangers of their neighbour to the north. We dangers of their neighbour to the north the north. We know that president the north. We know that president joe the north. We know that President Joe Biden the north. We know that President Joe Biden will| the north. We know that i President Joe Biden will be President Joe Biden will be hosting the leaders of South Korea And Japan coming up on friday at camp david. What do you hope they might discuss when it comes to travis . I dont know that i have an expectation that they will discuss travis. They have a lot on their agenda. Certainly anything the Us Government can do to facilitate him coming home is much appreciated and as the army and dod said last night, they remain focused on that goal, bringing him home. Of course, this is already been quite an ordealfor of course, this is already been quite an ordeal for travis and his family. How was his Family Coping . His family. How was his family coin . ,. , his family. How was his family cumin . ,. ,. , coping . They are overwhelmed. It is hard to coping . They are overwhelmed. It is hard to become coping . They are overwhelmed. It is hard to become sort coping . They are overwhelmed. It is hard to become sort of it is hard to become sort of involuntarily famous, right . When tv people are showing up your house on the phone number stops ringing. Its hard and thats on top of the emotional burden of being worried so i think they are coping with it heroically. But its difficult. That is the bbc speaking to private kings family spokesperson. Our North America correspondent sean dilley tried to predict what happens next. We are now instead going to stick with the United States where President Joe Biden has announced he will head to the fire Ravaged Hawaii State on monday to meet the survivors and First Responders still hunting for bodies. The number of dead has risen to 110. Mr biden� s announcement comes as the island continues to grapple with the aftermath of the catastrophic blazes. Here youre seeing the devastation in the Historic Town of la haina. Officials are anticipating a long and hard recovery effort. On tuesday, hawaiis governor josh green reported that over a quarter of the burn area had been canvassed by Search And Rescue personnel. According to the states main utility provider, roughly 2,000 homes and businesses were still without power, on top of an additional 2,000 structures that have already been destroyed. Town of la haina. Officials are anticipating a long and hard recovery effort. On tuesday, hawaiis governor josh green reported that over a quarter of the burn area had been canvassed by Search And Rescue personnel. Deanne criswell, from the federal Emergency Management agency, described the Current Situation as active and dynamic. I wanted to be honest with everyone. This is also going to be a very long and hard recovery but our federal, state and local partners are working around the clock to help all of those have been impacted by this disaster. We will be there to support them throughout this recovery process. I know in the present troubles, hes going to be able to bring hope and speak the governor and the states first lady and talk to survivors and hear their stories is that level of hope that i think is going to be a really positive impact for this community. Our North America correspondent John Sudworth sent us this update from hawaii. Theres been some criticism, of course, over the speed of the National Government response to this disaster. So it will be welcome news here on maui that the president and the first lady are coming here. Im in the community, we are some distance away from the devastated town, but nonetheless, you can see from these destroyed homes and businesses the power of the Weather Event that the fire crews were tackling that night. The same Smouldering Wildfire is fanned by the offshore hurricane, bringing destruction to this area as well. The real onerous task, of course, as well as the emotionally challenging work is going on down in the town, as the Forensic Experts continue to come to the wreckage there in the bid to discover the remains of more victims and to identify them. It is this work in the immediate Recovery Rector as well as whats happening down there that the president and the first lady will be able to see for themselves. Tensions remain high in the Taiwan Straight is the chair of the organisation overseeing the unofficial relationship with taiwan will have a meeting later today. China announced the early visits of the taiwanese Vice President william lai. The likelihood of Military Drills taking place on the island could be likely. China considers taiwan to be a breakaway province and does not recognise diplomatic ties. I am joined byjames moriarty, the chair of the organisation the American Institute in taiwan until march. Thank you for joining us. Beijing has warned of resolute and forceful measures in response to this visit but how does diplomatic rhetoric compared to that of, say, the previous incidents when the president tsai met with the us Speaker Of The House nancy pelosi and her visit to the island . I house nancy pelosi and her visit to the island . Visit to the island . I think Nancy Pelosis visit to the island . I think Nancy Pelosis visit visit to the island . I think Nancy Pelosis visit to visit to the island . I think Nancy Pelosis visit to the island ramped up the rhetoric to a new level and therefore beijing cannot let it drop back down to that level too much without looking soft. On the other hand, it hasnt been to mark. The administration has handled this carefully. And i think william lai, the Vice President and appears to be United States and beijing is a Risk Constable Hand compared to what happens in the taiwan election. � ,. , what happens in the taiwan election. , , election. Are you surprised we havent seen election. Are you surprised we havent seen any election. Are you surprised we havent seen any military havent seen any military action from china . They were talking about a good gamejust a few days ago. Talking about a good game ust a few days mi talking about a good game ust a few days agei a few days ago. Well, i think they are a few days ago. Well, i think they are doing a few days ago. Well, i think they are doing some a few days ago. Well, i think i they are doing some exercises up they are doing some exercises up to the north so there is always the possibility that we could see a swing of course. My guess is probably not. Things have changed since the nancy pelosi visit. I think china very much wants to see an improvement or a relationship with us. It is very concerned about the economy right now. Im guessing that they really dont want to add a taiwan crisis to the overloaded issues that xi jinping is facing. That xi jinping is facing. When Vice President that xi jinping is facing. When Vice President william that xi jinping is facing. When Vice President william lai Vice President william lai meeting the chair of the American Institute in taiwan, a position you held until earlier this year, what do you expect them to discuss . I this year, what do you expect them to discuss . Them to discuss . I think william them to discuss . I think william lai will be them to discuss . I think i william lai will be going to Great Lengths to assure the new chair that is not going to be doing anything silly with respect to cross straight ties. That he will basically maintain, do everything you can to maintain the status quo and will not be seen pushing taiwan towards an outright declaration of independence. Of independence. James moriarty. Of independence. James moriarty, thank of independence. James moriarty, thank you of independence. James| moriarty, thank you very of independence. James moriarty, thank you very much forjoining us in the programme. Around the world across the uk, this is bbc news. Bbc news, bringing you different stories from across the uk. Playful and plentiful. These kittens are currently being home in worcestershire but its not the best of times. They are struggling financially and if things dont improve, this could be their final year. Its probably a combination of Rising Energy costs, rising vet bills and the general cost of living crisis everyone is faced with at the moment. Roughly we are losing 20,000 each month, the more months ago is on, the harder it sitting us. The century harder it sitting us. The century has harder it sitting us. The century has been harder it sitting us. The century has been here i harder it sitting us. The century has been here for more than 50 years and this kitty is one of 70 animals being cared for but staff say at the moment, they are having to stop taking in new animals. Its taking in new animals. Its fuite taking in new animals. It� s quite heartbreaking, really. Obviously we have taken a lot of phone calls, we get about 20 phone calls a day from people asking to surrender animals such as dogs and cats and rabbits, its a very good difficult situation to be in. You are with bbc news. To ukraine now, where theres been a Significant Development in the effort by ukraine to continue its exports across the black sea, despite concerns that russia could target cargo ships. A Hong Kong FlaggedMerchant Vessel successfully left the Ukrainian Sea Port of odesa on wednesday and does not appear to have come under any danger. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky called the ships movements an important step. With more on that, heres our correspondent in kyiv, James Waterhouse. There are also interesting developments at sea, where since the collapse of a major agreement last month which allowed ukraine to export grain through an agreed route through the black sea, and then announced this humanitarian corridor, without any kind of acknowledgement from russia, which has continued to target commercial vessels stopping it we have a cargo ship leave the port of edessa this morning, it had been trapped since the invasion, it has continued to make its way south towards turkey. Now, there are some in the insurance and Shipping Industry that are rightfully nervous about this, because russia enjoys quite a lot of dominance on the southern ukrainian coast, it has used its vessels to blockade ukrainian ports. And yet this vessel seems to have made its way through. More could follow, but there is a big if here on whether russia decides to leave these vessels alone. Think it is a big if because it is to strike ukrainian ports with drone strikes. That is James Waterhouse in kyiv. We turn to the fiva womens world cup. The will take on spain in the final on sunday. England led i 0 spain in the final on sunday. England led 1 0 after halftime through a goalfrom ella toone. Australia levelled midway through the second half with a potential goal from sam through the second half with a Potential Goalfrom sam kerr. Potential goal from sam kerr. With Potential Goalfrom sam kerr. With a few bad mistakes by the Australian Defence league was two more to close things out and book its place in the final. Heres what the players made of the game in a postmatch news conference. Filth made of the game in a postmatch news conference. News conference. Oh my god, what a feeling. News conference. Oh my god, what a feeling. If news conference. Oh my god, what a feeling. If you news conference. Oh my god, what a feeling. If you like what a feeling. If you like theres no word