The US Army has charged defector Travis King with several offenses including desertion for sprinting into North Korea in July — as well as the solicitation of child pornography and other crimes dating back to at least last year.
The wide-ranging case against King, who spent over two months in the custody of North Korean law enforcement, includes eight distinct charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, according to court records obtained by Reuters.
The Army claims the private had the intention of abandoning his military duties permanently when he ditched his South Korean post by running across the demilitarized border into the totalitarian country.
He “did remain so absent in desertion until on or about 27 September 2023,” when the hermit kingdom released him back to the US, the court records state.
The Army’s charge sheet accuses King of broad misconduct before his defection into North Korea, including an alleged attempted escape from US military custody in October 2022.
King was also allegedly caught possessing child pornography and asked another individual over Snapchat to “knowingly and willingly produce child pornography” the same month he fled to North Korea, according to the charges.
The Wisconsin native was additionally hit with assault charges for allegedly targeting his fellow Soldiers and insubordination for leaving his base after curfew and drinking alcohol in violation of Army regulations, the documents state.
……He was facing military disciplinary charges — as well as a dishonorable discharge — back in the US after he was hit with two assault charges.
King was accused of punching a man several times in the face at a club in September 2022 and then, two weeks later, damaged the backseat of a police car in a profanity-laced tirade against Koreans after he was picked up for displaying “aggressive behavior.”
The dipshit was already facing disciplinary action after having served time in a South Korean prison over assault, then he became an international incident with one of our worst enemies.
Fuck that shitstain. They should have told the Norks to keep his ass.
Related posts:
https://sfcmac.com/north-korea-dumps-us-soldier-who-defected-back-into-our-laps/
https://sfcmac.com/us-soldier-defects-to-north-korea-while-on-tour-of-dmz/