Army Private To Expected To Plead Guilty in Desertion Case

An Army private is expected to plead guilty to defecting to North Korea, a case that has captured widespread attention and diplomatic complexities.

At a Glance

Army private Travis King will plead guilty to desertion and four other charges.
King will admit guilt to military offenses including desertion and assaulting an officer.
Nine other charges will be dismissed under the plea deal.
King will have a plea hearing on Sept. 20 at Fort Bliss, Texas.

Background of the Case

Army Private Travis King is scheduled to plead guilty to desertion and four other charges, stemming from his unauthorized crossing into North Korea last year. King’s case has made headlines due to the complexities involving his alleged desertion and the subsequent diplomatic challenges. His lawyer, Franklin D. Rosenblatt, confirms that King will admit to the charges.

King’s lawyer, Franklin D. Rosenblatt, stated, “He wants to take responsibility for the things that he did.” He also shared that his client will plead guilty to five out of fourteen charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, including desertion, three counts of disobeying an officer, and assault on a non-commissioned officer.

Incident Details and Legal Consequences

In July 2023, Travis King reportedly crossed into North Korea from South Korea after being released from a South Korean prison. North Korea detained him for about two months before expelling him. King was flown back to Texas on Sept. 28 and has been in custody at Fort Bliss since. The U.S. military filed multiple charges against King in October under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

King is expected to plead guilty to five charges, while nine others will be withdrawn and dismissed by the Army. Desertion charges potentially carry a jail sentence of up to five years. If his plea deal is accepted, King will be sentenced according to the agreed terms; if rejected, the case may proceed to a contested court-martial.

Army private who fled to North Korea will plead guilty to desertion https://t.co/u7aHTfqnrz

— KCRG-TV9 (@KCRG) August 27, 2024

Diplomatic and Military Reactions

King’s alleged unauthorized crossing into North Korea spurred a diplomatic crisis, occurring at a time of strained relations between the Koreas. North Korea justified his expulsion by claiming he entered the country illegally, and that he was escaping mistreatment and racial discrimination in the US Army. The U.S., however, emphasized that no concessions were made to North Korea for King’s release.

King, who joined the Army in January 2021, was previously stationed in South Korea. Before his defection, he was supposed to return to Texas for disciplinary hearings related to a bar fight that resulted in his jail stay in South Korea. Instead, King joined a DMZ tour and reportedly crossed into North Korea. North Korea’s claim that King fled to escape mistreatment and racial discrimination in the US Army stands in stark contrast with the expulsion it carried out due to his illegal intrusion.