Staff Reports
An American soldier has found a way to barter his way through the consequences of a questionable choice, and it’s a tale as perplexing as it is questionable. Army Private Travis King, who decided to escape to North Korea rather than face the music back home, has struck a plea deal, according to his attorney, Franklin Rosenblatt. This is the same Private King who sprinted into North Korean territory like it was the latest theme park attraction, apparently believing the grass would be greener on the other side—if only it weren’t brown and dusty.
King, who faced a whopping 14 charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, has agreed to plead guilty to five offenses. Among those, desertion, three counts of disobeying an officer, and even assault on a noncommissioned officer have made the cut. The fact that these charges stem from someone who once ran straight into the hands of a regime known for its cozy jails is a story twist that could be used as the plot for a new political drama.
Scheduled for a court-martial at Fort Bliss on September 20, this saga only continues to raise eyebrows. Not only did King abandon his post, but he previously served a two-month jail sentence in South Korea for assault—probably not the character profile the Army was hoping for when they recruited him. Instead of taking his flight back home, King opted for a little unsanctioned exploration, joining a tour group and crossing the demilitarized zone like he was headed for a vacation.
Adding more bizarre layers to the drama, North Korean state media reported that King fled to their territory because he harbored “ill feelings against inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination.” Of course, it’s hard to take that seriously when the alternative was living under a regime known for some of the world’s most notorious human rights abuses. Perhaps the Army should have considered sending King to anger management instead of a tour group.
BREAKING NEWS: US Soldier Who Entered North Korea to Plead Guilty on 5 Charges: An American soldier who ran across the North Korean border last year has reached a plea deal with the Army, according to his lawyer. “U.S. Army Private Travis King will […] … https://t.co/vaAsjjiGjl pic.twitter.com/o319cLybjU
— ZBreakingNewz (@ZBreakingNewz) August 27, 2024
As if that weren’t enough, King was also charged with leaving his barracks without permission and consuming alcohol in violation of orders. Allegedly, he even kicked a staff sergeant in the head, which raises the question of whether his real issue was with authority in general. A good rule of thumb for soldiers facing trouble: running toward a country famed for political prisons is probably not your best escape plan.
King’s mother has taken to the public stage to suggest that something traumatic happened to her son while deployed. Mother’s intuition is often spot-on, but it’s hard to tell whether her focus should have been on the actions leading up to his decision to run off or on the fact that after multiple run-ins with the law, maybe her son simply wasn’t cut out for the military life. As the legal proceedings unfold, many are left to wonder how “taking responsibility” will ultimately manifest when it comes to the repercussions of behavior that contradicts the very values instilled in U.S. service members.
