U.S. soldier Travis King, who ran across the Demilitarized Zone into North Korea, was sentenced to a prison term that equaled the time he had already served – 338 days. He had pleaded guilty to five charges including desertion, assault, and disobeying lawful orders. King was dishonorably discharged, despite seeking a “bad conduct discharge.” His attorney stated that with credit for good behavior, King will now be free and can return home.
King crossed into North Korea in July 2023 while on a tour group in South Korea. He was detained and returned to the U.S. in September following diplomatic efforts. The court-martial outcome was seen as fair and a deterrent for future similar offenses within the U.S. Army.
King’s defense attorneys claimed he faced difficulties adjusting and experiencing racism in his unit, citing incidents like racist remarks. The incident came five decades after another U.S. soldier defected to North Korea in 1962. James Dresnok, who died in North Korea in 2016, defected to avoid a court-martial.
King had been in the Army since January 2021 and had violated part of the joint security agreement in South Korea before running across the DMZ. Despite being escorted to Incheon Airport, he joined a group heading to Panmunjom in North Korea instead of returning to the U.S. alone.
Overall, King’s sentence reflected the seriousness of his offenses, while his time already served and good behavior credit allowed for his eventual release and return home.
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