US soldier who fled to North Korea pleads guilty to desertion, assault

U.S. Army Pvt. Travis King, who crossed into North Korea last year, pleaded guilty to charges related to desertion, assault and disobeying an order, the Army said Friday in a blog post.

King pleaded guilty to three counts of disobeying a superior commissioned officer, one count of desertion and one count of assault on a noncommissioned officer. His plea was made Friday before a military judge in Fort Bliss, Texas.

He was sentenced to 12 months of confinement, but the time he’s already served since he was apprehended and released to the U.S. will count toward his sentence, per the Army. He was also demoted to E1, the lowest enlisted rank in the Army, and issued a dishonorable discharge.

“The outcome of today’s court-martial is a fair and just result that reflects the seriousness of the offenses committed by Pvt. King and will promote good order and discipline within the U.S. Army by deterring Soldiers from committing similar offenses in the future,” Maj. Allyson Montgomery, prosecutor, said in a statement. 

The 24-year-old was deployed to South Korea and expected to return home last July, but he ran into North Korea during a tour of a border town. After he returned home in October 2023, King was charged with 14 counts for a variety of alleged violations.

His attorney, Franklin Rosenblatt, said that as a part of his guilty plea, nine of those charges would be dropped. 

King was in custody in the Otero County jail in New Mexico before Friday’s court appearance. It is unclear if he will remain there. 

“Travis King has faced significant challenges throughout his life, including a difficult upbringing, exposure to criminal environments, and struggles with mental health,” Rosenblatt said Friday night in a statement. “All these factors have compounded the hardships he faced in the military.” 

“He has accepted responsibility during today’s court martial — but make no mistake, the negative public perception and the ongoing consequences of his actions, coupled with the confinement he’s endured, represents an ongoing punishment Travis King will endure for the rest of his life,” he added.