US Army private Travis King, who had fled to North Korea in July, has been charged with desertion and other crimes by the Army, according to a charging document obtained by CNN. The charges against King include possession of child pornography, assault on fellow soldiers, and disobeying a superior officer. After being released from North Korean custody and returning to the United States last month, King was detained on Wednesday at Ft. Bliss, Texas, and is currently being held in pre-trial detention. King’s mother expressed concern for her son’s mental health and requested that he be given the presumption of innocence.
King, 23, was charged with eight counts in total under the military’s judicial code. The Army has confirmed the charges but declined to provide further details, citing King’s privacy. Prior to fleeing to North Korea, King had been released from detention in South Korea in relation to an incident where he allegedly assaulted a victim at a club in Seoul. According to court documents, King was scheduled to face disciplinary procedures in Texas but left when he was released at a security checkpoint in Seoul. The next day, he joined a tour of the Joint Security Area in the demilitarized zone and crossed the demarcation line into North Korea.
This situation raises concerns about King’s mental health, as expressed by his mother. She believes that something may have happened to him while he was deployed and awaits the results of the Army’s investigation into events at Camp Humphries. King’s return to the United States followed his unauthorized entry into North Korea, leading to his eventual release and repatriation. The charges against King highlight the seriousness of his alleged offenses, including possession of child pornography, and he will now face the legal consequences of his actions as he remains in pre-trial detention.
