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8mo ago

US Soldier Travis King Sentenced to One Year for Desertion After Fleeing to North Korea

King pleaded guilty to five charges, including desertion and assault, and was released based on time served and good behavior.

U.S. Private Travis T. King (wearing a black shirt and black cap) is seen in this picture taken during a tour of the tightly controlled Joint Security Area (JSA) on the border between the two Koreas, at the truce village of Panmunjom, South Korea, July 18, 2023. Sarah Leslie/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo
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Overview

  • Travis King, a 24-year-old US Army private, fled to North Korea in July 2023 after escaping from his military escort in South Korea.
  • King faced 14 charges but pleaded guilty to five as part of a plea deal, including desertion, assault on a noncommissioned officer, and disobeying orders.
  • He was sentenced to 12 months of confinement, reduced in rank to private (E-1), forfeited all pay and allowances, and received a dishonorable discharge.
  • King's lawyer cited his difficult upbringing, exposure to criminal environments, and mental health struggles as factors that compounded his hardships in the military.
  • King was detained in North Korea for over two months before being expelled and returned to US custody in September 2023 following diplomatic efforts.