A US soldier who ran across the border from South to North Korea is anticipated to plead guilty to desertion and assault charges as part of a plea deal with prosecutors. Private Travis King, facing multiple charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, is set to take responsibility for his actions and enter a guilty plea for five of the offenses, including desertion.
In addition to desertion, King will plead guilty to disobeying an officer and assaulting a noncommissioned officer. His court martial hearing, where he will explain his actions and receive his sentence, is scheduled for September 20 at Fort Bliss, Texas.
King's legal team has been in plea negotiations with military prosecutors, resulting in a plea agreement that includes the withdrawal of certain charges, such as possession of child pornography. The Office of Special Trial Counsel has confirmed the negotiated plea agreement and King's continued pretrial confinement.
King, a cavalry scout, crossed into North Korea without authorization in July 2023, shortly after being released from a detention facility in South Korea. He had been held over an incident in October 2022 where he allegedly assaulted a victim at a club in Seoul.
After crossing into North Korea, King was taken into custody and later returned to US custody through a diplomatic process involving Sweden and China. North Korea claimed that King confessed to intruding into their territory due to grievances against the US Army and society, though this could not be independently verified.
As the legal proceedings continue, King's guilty plea will determine his sentencing under the terms of the plea agreement. If the plea is not accepted, the case may proceed to a contested court-martial.
