Private Travis King, the U.S. soldier who ran across the Demilitarized Zone into North Korea last year, was sentenced to a prison term of 12 months, which equals the time he has already served. He pleaded guilty to desertion, assault on a non-commissioned officer, and disobeying a lawful order. King was also dishonorably discharged, despite seeking a “bad conduct discharge.” He had been in the Army since January 2021 and had violated a joint security agreement in South Korea before running across the DMZ.
Defense attorneys argued that King was encouraged to enlist in the Army and struggled to adjust, facing racism in his unit as a Black soldier. King experienced incidents of racist remarks and unhappiness within his unit. This incident occurred 50 years after another U.S. soldier, James Dresnok, defected to North Korea in 1962 to avoid a court-martial.
King’s return was secured through a “multiweek diplomatic effort” and, with credit for good behavior, he is now free to return home. The prosecution stated that King’s sentence reflects the seriousness of his offenses and will promote discipline within the U.S. Army. Despite his troubled past in the military, King has now served his sentence and will be able to move forward with his life.
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