In July Last Year, Defection to North Korea During JSA Tour
US Military Court Sentences 1 Year Imprisonment
Time Detained as Detainee Counted Towards Release
Private Travis King, who illegally defected to North Korea last July and was expelled back to the United States, has regained his freedom after one year.
On the 20th (local time), foreign media including the US CNN and UK BBC reported that at a court-martial held at the Fort Bliss Army base in Texas, Private King pleaded guilty to five charges including desertion, insubordination, and assault on a superior officer. The court sentenced Private King to dishonorable discharge and one year in prison, with time served during pretrial detention credited, leading to his release on the same day. Private King had been held in detention at Fort Bliss, Texas since September of last year.
Private Travis King, a former US soldier who defected to North Korea during a tour of the Joint Security Area in Panmunjom last July and was subsequently deported [Photo by AP Yonhap News]
Private King defected to North Korea by illegally crossing the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) while on a tour of the Joint Security Area (JSA) on July 18, last year. Prior to his defection, in October 2022, he was fined 5 million won for kicking and damaging a police car door in Mapo-gu, Seoul. After failing to pay the fine, he served 48 days of labor in South Korea before being released, and was scheduled to be repatriated to the US military for additional disciplinary action related to this incident. However, on the scheduled repatriation day, he did not board the plane at Incheon Airport. The day after he disappeared, he defected to North Korea during a JSA tour.
Private King was released in the form of expulsion after 71 days. While staying in North Korea, he was interrogated by North Korean authorities but was expelled to China without any conditions. He then returned to the US via Dandong, China, and Osan Air Base in South Korea, and was charged with 14 offenses including desertion and possession of child pornography. However, the military prosecution negotiated a plea deal with King, dropping charges on 9 counts.
At the court-martial, Private King reportedly stated that the reason for his illegal defection was "because he was not satisfied with military life." He also said, "After deserting, I never intended to return." He revealed that he had been diagnosed with mental health issues but added that it did not affect his ability to stand trial.
Private King's attorney stated in a press release, "King is willing to take responsibility for everything he has done," adding, "Although he has gained his freedom, he will continue to suffer due to social stigma and the experience of detention over the past year."
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