Skip to main content

Could Army Pvt. Travis King, just back from North Korea, face charges for desertion, going AWOL?

Image related to the return of Army Pvt. Travis King from North Korea

Could Army Pvt. Travis King, Returning from North Korea, Anticipate Possible Charges for Desertion?

Soldier Travis King, after an unauthorized absence in North Korea, could very possibly face legal ramifications following his assessment and debriefing at a military base in Texas. A possible future filled with military sanctions and legal repercussions looms for King, who sought refuge in one of the most oppressive regimes in the world.

The Possible Legal Predicament for Pvt. Travis King

Travis King, a cavalry scout, had already served a jail term in South Korea due to a conflict with the law enforcement in the country. This week, North Korea revealed that it would deport him after completing a probe into his actions. The nation's official Korean Central News Agency has reported that King confessed to illegally crossing into their territory, driven by disillusionment with the U.S. military and American society.

Assessing Physical and Mental Health Before Legal Consequences

However, before dealing with possible legal consequences, King's physical and mental health will be the immediate focus. At Brooke Army Medical Center and Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, King will undergo an examination. The U.S. Army South receives soldiers who have been held captive by hostile forces.

Reintegration treatment initiates with phases involving initial recovery, a comprehensive medical check-up, debriefing, and psychological decompression. The last phase is geared towards reuniting them with their families and ensuring continued emotional and physical care.

Desertion to North Korea: A Historical Perspective

There is historic precedent for desertion to North Korea, with examples such as Army Sgt. Charles Jenkins who deserted in 1965. Upon his plea of guilt to desertion and aiding the enemy, he was sentenced to a mere 25 days in a U.S. military jail in Japan and faced a dishonorable discharge. Prosecutions of soldiers for desertion or going AWOL have remained infrequent. It remains to be seen if Pvt. King will face a similar fate.

AWOL in Panmunjom, South Korea

King, who was scheduled to return to Fort Bliss in Texas after being released from jail, ended up joining a group visiting the Demilitarized Zone in Panmunjom instead. Abruptly, he crossed the heavily defended border into North Korea. Depending on the circumstances, punishments for going AWOL can range from jail time, loss of rank, to a dishonorable discharge. The more severe charge of desertion could lead to years of incarceration.

Army legal experts suggest that severe charges could be levied against King to deter others among the 28,000 U.S. troops in South Korea from adopting similar measures.

The decision on King's punishment is still pending and likely to follow his reintegration process, which could extend over the next few months.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

New Orleans residents brace for salt water intrusion as Biden declares national emergency

Federal Emergency Declared as New Orleans Faces Threat of Saltwater Intrusion The water infrastructure of New Orleans is under threat from saltwater intrusion, triggering a federal emergency declaration by President Joe Biden. Biden Responds to Impending Crisis In response to diminishing fresh water levels in the Mississippi River due to irregular rainfall patterns, President Joe Biden sanctioned a declaration of federal emergency. This concern arises from the rising saltwater levels beneath the depleting fresh water, a situation emerging over the last couple of months. This recent development has the potential to seriously jeopardize New Orleans' water infrastructure. Implications of the Saltwater Intrusion Historically, the Mississippi River's stronger current and an underwater sill have kept the saltwater intrusion at bay. However, the saltwater layer managed to override the sill on Monday, infiltrating the drinking water supply of Plaquemines Parish, Louisia...

U.S. Sends 1M Rounds of Seized Iranian Ammo to Ukraine - USNI News

U.S. Dispatches Over 1 Million Rounds of Confiscated Iranian Ammunition to Ukraine In a significant geopolitical move, the United States has dispatched approximately 1.1 million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine. The ammunition, originally seized from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in December, was forwarded through the U.S. Central Command. A Strategic Move Amid Rising Tensions As regional tensions escalate, this swift action by the US is seen as a strategic maneuver to equip Ukraine in handling potential threats. By forwarding seized ammunition from the IRGC, the United States is making a clear stance against any attempts to destabilize the region. The Ammunition's Origin and Seizure The dispatched ammunition has a notable backstory. It was part of a larger cache seized from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a powerful military branch that has often found itself in conflict with U.S. interests. In the initial seizure conducted in Dece...

New details emerge about the slaying of beloved Baltimore tech CEO and the suspect in her killing

Emerging Information about the Alleged Murder of Renowned Tech CEO Pava LaPere and Her Assumed Killer New developments are shedding light on the alleged murder of celebrated Baltimore tech executive, Pava LaPere. Court documents suggest that moments before she was supposedly killed, surveillance cameras recorded her would-be assailant tailing her into her apartment building's elevator. Several days later, her body was found on the roof of the same building. Suspect Allegedly Caught on Camera The court papers provide fresh insights into an alleged interaction between LaPere and the man accused of her murder, Jason Dean Billingsley. Billingsley, a registered sex offender with an existing warrant for his arrest, was following the victim on a Friday night, unidentified law enforcement officials familiar with the investigation told CNN. Thousands of people are mourning LaPere, the CEO and co-founder of the tech startup, EcoMap Technologies, who is belie...