US Army Private Travis King, who made international headlines after crossing into North Korea from South Korea, is set to plead guilty to charges of desertion and assault as part of a plea deal with military prosecutors. King’s court martial is scheduled for September 20 at Fort Bliss, Texas, where he will admit to five charges, including desertion, disobeying an officer, and assaulting a noncommissioned officer.
King, who illegally entered North Korea in July 2023, faced 14 charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. His legal team has successfully negotiated a plea agreement that will lead to the dismissal of other charges, including the possession of child pornography, to which he will plead not guilty.
The incident occurred just days after King was released from detention in South Korea, where he had served time for assault. Instead of boarding a flight home, King joined a tour of the Joint Security Area in the demilitarized zone and then crossed into North Korea without authorization. He was detained by North Korean authorities before being returned to US custody in September, thanks to diplomatic efforts facilitated by Sweden.
King’s lawyer, Frank Rosenblatt, expressed gratitude for the support King has received from his family and others who withheld judgment. The court martial will allow King to explain his actions and receive his sentence under the terms of the plea agreement.
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