US Soldier Travis King To Plead Guilty To Desertion In North Korea Case

US Army Pvt. Travis King, who fled from South Korea to North Korea before being returned to the US, will plead guilty to desertion and other charges, his lawyer announced. King faces 14 charges related to his illegal border crossing in July 2023, and plans to plead guilty to five of them, including desertion and assault, as part of a plea agreement.

King’s lawyer, Franklin Rosenblatt, stated that the soldier would plead not guilty to the remaining charges, which the Army has agreed to withdraw and dismiss. The plea and sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 20 at Fort Bliss, Texas.

“Travis’s guilty plea will be entered at a general court-martial, where he will explain his actions, respond to the judge’s questions, and receive his sentence,” Rosenblatt said in a statement. King expressed gratitude for the support of his family, friends, and those who refrained from pre-judging him based on the charges.

As part of the plea deal, charges related to the possession of child pornography are expected to be dismissed. King, who has been in the Army since January 2021, was in South Korea on a unit rotation when he crossed into North Korea. His return to the US was arranged by Swedish officials, who escorted him to the North Korean border with China. The reasons behind his escape to North Korea and subsequent expulsion remain unclear, and the US has confirmed that no concessions were made to secure his release.