Private Travis King, a U.S. soldier who ran across the Demilitarized Zone into North Korea last year, has been sentenced to a prison term that amounts to the time he has already served. King pleaded guilty to five charges, including desertion and assault on a non-commissioned officer, and was sentenced to 12 months in prison for desertion and one month for each of the other four counts. He has already served 338 days. King was also dishonorably discharged, a decision sought by the prosecution.
Defense attorneys noted that King spent 63 days in North Korea in addition to his time served in the U.S. Despite the guilty plea and sentencing, King’s attorney, Frank Rosenblatt, stated that with time served and good behavior, King is now free and will return home. The incident occurred in July 2023 when King ran across the DMZ, and he was returned to the U.S. by North Korea in September of that year following a diplomatic effort.
King’s defense argued that he was encouraged to enlist in the Army by a recruiter and experienced racism in his unit, leading to his actions. The incident is reminiscent of another U.S. soldier, James Dresnok, who defected to North Korea in 1962. Dresnok remained in North Korea until his death in 2016. Overall, the court-martial proceedings were deemed fair and just, with the prosecution stating that it reflects the seriousness of King’s offenses and will promote good order and discipline within the U.S. Army.
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