Overview

• Travis King, a 24-year-old US Army private, fled to North Korea in July 2023 after escaping from his military escort in South Korea.
• King faced 14 charges but pleaded guilty to five as part of a plea deal, including desertion, assault on a noncommissioned officer, and disobeying orders.
• He was sentenced to 12 months of confinement, reduced in rank to private (E-1), forfeited all pay and allowances, and received a dishonorable discharge.
• King's lawyer cited his difficult upbringing, exposure to criminal environments, and mental health struggles as factors that compounded his hardships in the military.
• King was detained in North Korea for over two months before being expelled and returned to US custody in September 2023 following diplomatic efforts.