American soldier who crossed into North Korea sentenced to time served

US soldier Travis King, who ran across the Demilitarized Zone into North Korea, has been sentenced to time already served. He pleaded guilty to desertion, assault, and disobeying orders. He was sentenced to 12 months for desertion and one month for each of the other charges. King, who served 338 days, was also dishonorably discharged. His attorneys had sought a bad conduct discharge. King crossed the DMZ in July 2023, was detained in North Korea, and returned to the US in September after a diplomatic effort. The Army called the sentencing fair and just, discouraging similar offenses in the future. King joined the Army in 2021 but faced racism and difficulty adjusting, according to his defense attorneys. The incident, reminiscent of another defection in 1962, occurred after King violated a joint security agreement in South Korea. Despite being escorted to the airport, he ended up crossing the DMZ instead of returning to the US. King’s experience highlights the challenges faced by some soldiers in the military and the consequences of their actions.

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