Travis King to plead guilty to desertion after crossing into North Korea

Travis King, a 23-year-old U.S. Army private from Racine, Wisconsin, enlisted in January 2021 and was deployed in South Korea. He faced assault charges and was held in a local prison for nearly two months. Scheduled to return to the U.S. in July 2023, he instead crossed into North Korea during a civilian tour of the DMZ, where he was detained for two months before being released on September 27, 2023. Upon his return, King underwent three weeks of debriefings and reintegration at Joint Base San Antonio before rejoining his unit at Fort Bliss. He has been held in pre-trial detention at Otero County Detention Center in New Mexico. His attorney announced that King will plead guilty to five charges, including desertion and assault, while nine other charges will be dismissed. King's decision to cross into North Korea was reportedly influenced by feelings of maltreatment and racial discrimination within the Army, as well as disillusionment with U.S. society. His actions have raised questions about the treatment of soldiers and the pressures they face. The upcoming court-martial on September 20 will see King explain his actions and face sentencing. His case has garnered attention, with supporters urging for understanding rather than judgment based on initial allegations.