WASHINGTON, Sep 27 (AFP) - The White House thanked Beijing on Wednesday for allowing detained US soldier Travis King to leave North Korea through Chinese territory.

"We thank... the government of the People's Republic of China for its assistance in facilitating the transit of Private King," National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a statement.

King had left Chinese airspace and was on his way to a US military base, a senior administration official said.

Photo from AP