Travis King

U.S. Army private who fled to North Korea will plead guilty to desertion, lawyer says

11:36am August 27, 2024

Travis King’s attorney says the U.S. Army private intends to admit guilt to a total of five military offenses, including desertion and assaulting an officer.

A portrait of Army Pvt. Travis King is displayed as his grandfather, Carl Gates, talks about his grandson on July 19, 2023, in Kenosha, Wis.

National

Travis King, the Army private who fled to North Korea, is charged with desertion

12:57am October 20, 2023

by The Associated Press

Travis King, who fled to North Korea before being returned home to the United States last month, has been detained by the U.S. military, two officials said Thursday.

A TV screen shows a file image of U.S. soldier Travis King during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday. North Korea said Wednesday that it was expelling King, who crossed into the country through the heavily armed border between the Koreas in July.

Travis King, U.S. soldier who ran to North Korea, is headed to Texas

4:38pm September 27, 2023

by Anthony Kuhn

U.S. officials thanked Sweden and China for help securing the release of the 23-year-old Army private, who went to North Korea in July.

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A TV screen shows a file image of U.S. soldier Travis King during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023.

World News

North Korea says a U.S. soldier crossed its border because of the racism in America

2:22pm August 16, 2023

by Anthony Kuhn

The report from the government-owned and -run news agency marks North Korea's first public confirmation of the incident since 23-year-old Travis King crossed the border in July.

A TV screen shows a file image of North Korea's missile launch during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, on Saturday.

World News

As North Korea fires missiles, it stays silent on U.S. soldier who fled to the country

1:13pm July 22, 2023

by The Associated Press

While adding to its barrage of missile launches in recent months, North Korea remained publicly silent for a fifth day on the fate of an American soldier who ran into the country earlier in the week.

Travis King, a U.S. soldier, is believed to be in North Korean custody after he ran across the border on Tuesday.

What we know about Travis King, the U.S. soldier who crossed into North Korea

3:01pm July 19, 2023

King, 23, was stationed in South Korea, but was scheduled to fly back to the U.S. to face disciplinary action when he escaped an airport outside of Seoul and managed to flee into North Korea.

Charles Jenkins (left), age 64, his wife Hitomi Soga (second from left) and their daughters arrive at Japan's Sado Island in December 2004, almost 40 years after he defected to North Korea.

Travis King isn't the 1st U.S. soldier to enter North Korea. Here's a history

2:52pm July 19, 2023

by Rachel Treisman

Travis King crossed the border into North Korea on Tuesday, becoming the first U.S. service member to do so since 1982. A handful of American soldiers defected in the years after the Korean War.