Travis King, Army Soldier Who Crossed into North Korea, to Plead Guilty

An U.S. Army soldier, Travis King, who crossed the border from South Korea into North Korea last year, is set to plead guilty to charges of desertion and assault, according to his attorney.

During a court hearing scheduled for September 20 at Fort Bliss in Texas, King is expected to plead guilty to five out of the 14 charges against him. These include one charge of desertion, three counts of disobeying lawful orders, and one count of assault on a non-commissioned officer.

The attorney representing King, Franklin Rosenblatt, shared the details of the plea deal in a statement issued to ABC News. The potential for a plea agreement first emerged in mid-July, raising expectations regarding the resolution of Kings’ case.

“US Army Private Travis King will take responsibility for his conduct and enter a guilty plea,” Rosenblatt stated. “He has been charged by the Army with fourteen offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. He intends to plead guilty to five of these charges, including desertion.”

Moreover, King plans to plead not guilty to the other charges, which the Army will reportedly withdraw and dismiss.

“Travis’s guilty plea will be entered at a general court-martial,” Rosenblatt explained. “There, he will elaborate on his actions, respond to questions from a military judge regarding his guilty plea, and receive his sentence.” He also expressed gratitude on behalf of King, thanking friends, family, and those who withheld judgment during the proceedings.

At the scheduled hearing, a military judge will decide if the plea agreement will be accepted and determine the length of time King may face in military prison.

Travis King’s crossing into North Korea in July 2023 triggered a significant international incident. He was held by North Korean authorities for more than two months after he ran into the country at the Joint Security Area in the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Before he joined the tour group that brought him to the DMZ, King had managed to escape from his Army escort while at the airport, where he was supposed to board a flight returning him to the United States.