Soldier Who Crossed Into North Korea Will Plead Guilty to Desertion, Lawyer Says

Travis King, the U.S. Army private who made international headlines last year after sprinting across the North Korean border, is set to plead guilty to desertion and four other charges. King, 23, will have nine other charges dropped, including possession of child pornography, under a plea deal, according to his lawyer, Franklin D. Rosenblatt.

In July 2023, King shocked the world when he crossed into North Korea after being released from a South Korean prison where he had served two months for assault. King was being escorted back to the U.S. for disciplinary action when he joined a civilian tour group and made a break for the heavily fortified border. His actions led to two months in North Korean custody before being returned to the U.S. to face a litany of charges, including soliciting a Snapchat user to produce child pornography.

• Taking Responsibility: King's lawyer emphasized that the private is prepared to take responsibility for his actions. “Travis is grateful to his friends and family who have supported him, and to all outside his circle who did not pre-judge his case based on the initial allegations,” Rosenblatt told The Associated Press.

• Serious Allegations: Beyond desertion, King faces accusations of assaulting officers, illegally possessing alcohol, and making false statements. Despite the gravity of these charges, the plea deal, if accepted, would spare him from facing the most severe allegations.

• Legal Proceedings: The hearing will take place at Fort Bliss, Texas, on September 20. If the judge accepts King's guilty plea, sentencing will follow according to the terms of the plea agreement. However, if the plea is rejected, the case could proceed to a full court-martial.

North Korea claimed that King crossed the border due to "ill feelings against inhuman mistreatment and racial discrimination within the U.S. Army," although these statements were not verified by the Pentagon and are consistent with North Korea’s history of making baseless accusations against the U.S.

King’s case is a reminder of the dangers posed by North Korea, particularly following the tragic fate of Otto Warmbier, an American civilian who was imprisoned by North Korea on false charges in 2016 and died shortly after being released in a coma.

As King faces the consequences of his actions, this case serves as a stark warning of the perils of straying into one of the most repressive regimes in the world.

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