U.S. soldier who crossed into North Korea set to plead guilty to desertion
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A man walks past a television showing a news broadcast featuring a photo of U.S. soldier Travis King in Seoul in August 2023. Photo: Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images
Travis King, the U.S. Army soldier who crossed into North Korea from South Korea before being returned home, will plead guilty to desertion and four other charges, his lawyer said Monday.
The big picture: King "will take responsibility for his conduct and enter a guilty plea," per a statement posted to X by his attorney Franklin Rosenblatt.
- In addition to desertion, Rosenblatt said King would plead guilty to assault on a noncommissioned officer and three counts of disobeying an officer. He'll plead not guilty to nine other offenses and the Army is expected to dismiss those charges, according to Rosenblatt.
- "Pvt. King has agreed to plead guilty, however further details are not releasable at this time as the guilty plea is subject to the acceptance by the military judge," Michelle McCaskill, a spokesperson for the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel, said in a statement shared with outlets including Axios.
State of play: King crossed the Military Demarcation Line into North Korea during a tour of the Joint Security Area in July last year, shortly before he was due to return to the U.S.
- He was at the time facing disciplinary measures after serving almost two months in a South Korean prison on assault charges, according to AP.
- Pyongyang state media reported after King crossed the border that he had "illegally intruded" into North Korean territory and that he would be expelled.
- King was initially taken to the Brooke Army Medical Center in Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, after being flown back to the U.S. in September. But he has since been held at Fort Bliss, near El Paso airport.
- He will remain in pretrial confinement, McCaskill said.
- Other offenses King was accused of included soliciting child pornography, possessing child pornography and drinking alcohol against orders.
What they're saying: "Travis is grateful to his friends and family who have supported him, and to all outside of his circle who did not pre-judge his case based on the initial allegations," Rosenblatt said.
- Representatives for the Army did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment on King in the evening.
What we're watching: His guilty pleas are expected to be entered at a general court-martial at a military base in Fort Bliss, Texas, on Sept. 20, where Rosenblatt said King will be sentenced.
- McCaskill said if King's guilty plea is not accepted, the judge can rule that the case be litigated in a contested court-martial.
- It's still not clear why King crossed the border or how he was treated while in North Korea.
Go deeper: Family of U.S. soldier who entered North Korea vows to fight charges "hard"
Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
