Travis King to plead guilty to desertion

Private Travis King, who fled from South Korea to North Korea before returning to the United States, will plead guilty to desertion and other charges. The information was confirmed by his lawyer.

"He will plead not guilty to the remaining offenses, which the Army will withdraw and dismiss. Travis’s guilty plea will be entered at a general court-martial," his lawyer Franklin Rosenblatt said in a statement to BBC News.

Similarly, it was learned that the plea and sentencing hearing will be held on Sept. 20 at a military base at Fort Bliss, Texas.

In the plea, King is expected to explain the reasons why he deserted. In that regard, BBC explained that "charges are expected to be dismissed as part of the plea deal include possession of child pornography."

According to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Private King crossed the demilitarized zone of his own free will and without any kind of order or authorization.

According to the trade magazine Military.com, King had just been released by South Korean authorities after being detained for assault. The 20-year-old soldier, a Wisconsin native, was scheduled to board a flight at Incheon International Airport to Fort Bliss, Texas. There he was to be tried by the military hierarchy. However, he reportedly escaped from the military police and ended up hiding among a group of civilian tourists.

According to NK News, Travis King joined the Army in January 2021. Since then he served in the cavalry arm and was part of several international rotations. Throughout his service he received the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal and the Overseas Service Ribbon.