U.S. Army Private Travis King, who made headlines last year for fleeing to North Korea, has decided to plead guilty to five charges, including desertion. This decision was confirmed by his legal counsel.
King, who was apprehended in North Korea, will confess to five of the 14 charges brought against him under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. These charges stem from his actions after his release from North Korean custody last September. The charges include desertion, assault on fellow soldiers, and solicitation of child pornography.
“King will admit guilt to five of the 14 charges, including desertion, three counts of disobeying an officer, and assault on a noncommissioned officer,” his legal representative stated. The remaining charges will be withdrawn and dismissed by the Army.
King’s case has garnered considerable attention due to his extraordinary escape to North Korea. His release from North Korean custody in September was the result of weeks of confidential negotiations, culminating in the Swedish government retrieving King and transferring him to the U.S. ambassador in China. This incident comes in the wake of a similar case where the U.S. Army halted the pay of a soldier imprisoned in Russia for unacceptable behavior.
The guilty plea and sentencing hearing are scheduled for September 20 at Fort Bliss in Texas. This follows an incident in 2023 where North Korea confirmed the detention of King. King had entered North Korea while on a civilian tour of a Korean border village, making him the first American detained in North Korea in almost five years.
