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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Bill McLoughlin

Travis King: US soldier who fled to North Korea 'charged with desertion'

Travis King, the US army soldier who fled to North Korea before being repatriated last month is facing charges including desertion and possessing sexual images of a child, reports state. 

The charges also reportedly include assault against fellow soldiers.

The reconnaissance specialist illegally crossed into North Korea, from South Korea, in July while on a guided tour of a border village.

Pyongyang eventually released him without giving further details.

After being expelled from North Korea, he was flown to a US air force base in Texas two months later where he was detained but allowed to meet his family. 

Prior to escaping into North Korea, Pvt King had served two months in detention in South Korea on charges that he assaulted two people and kicked a police car.

Being found guilty of desertion can result in imprisonment of as much as three years.

King's mother, Claudine Gates, said in a statement that she loved her son "unconditionally" and was "extremely concerned about his mental health".

"As his mother, I ask that my son be afforded the presumption of innocence," she said.

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