Travis King

Travis King
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service2021–present[a]
Rank Private
Unit1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division
4th Infantry Division[b]
Awards

Travis Travale King is an American United States Army soldier known for crossing over the Military Demarcation Line in the Joint Security Area (JSA) into North Korea on July 18, 2023, while on a civilian tour of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).[1][2] He was 23 years old at the time of his crossing into North Korea.[3]

King was facing dishonorable discharge and additional disciplinary actions from the United States Army due to legal charges in South Korea, where he was stationed at the time of crossing, as well as other cases of misconduct, insubordination, assault, attempted escape from U.S. military custody, and possession of child pornography,[4][5][6] which may have prompted his crossing.[7][8] However, North Korean authorities asserted that King fled after becoming "disillusioned with the inequality of American society and racial discrimination in its Army."[9][10]

King was detained by North Korea on July 18, 2023, and was released on September 27, 2023, back to U.S. authorities.[11][12][13] King was the first known detention of a U.S. national by North Korea since Bruce Byron Lowrance in November 2018.[14][15]


Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).

  1. ^ Seyler, Matt; Martinez, Luis; Raddatz, Martha; Shalvey, Kevin (July 19, 2023). "US soldier in North Korean custody after crossing DMZ line". ABC News. Archived from the original on January 29, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  2. ^ Radford, Antoinette; Fraser, Simon (July 18, 2023). "Travis King: US soldier held by North Korea after crossing border". BBC News. Archived from the original on July 19, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :madison was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Travis King, U.S. soldier who ran into North Korea, is charged with desertion". NBC News. October 20, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  5. ^ Dan Simmons and John Ismay (October 20, 2023). "U.S. Soldier Who Entered North Korea Is Charged With Desertion". The New York Times. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  6. ^ Jolie Lash, Luis Martinez, Matt Seyler, and Santina Leuci (October 20, 2023). "Travis King, soldier who crossed border into North Korea, charged with desertion". ABC News. Retrieved May 8, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Crawford, Shannon K.; Martinez, Luis (July 21, 2023). "Past comments may give new clues in mystery around why US soldier entered North Korea". ABC News. Archived from the original on February 3, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  8. ^ Guinto, Joel, ed. (July 19, 2023). "Soldier Travis King who fled to N Korea faced US disciplinary action". BBC News. Archived from the original on February 7, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  9. ^ Kim, Hyung-jin (August 16, 2023). "North Korea Claims U.S. Soldier Travis King Ran There Because of 'Racial Discrimination'". Time. Archived from the original on February 6, 2024. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  10. ^ Mackenzie, Jean; Cai, Derek (August 16, 2023). "Travis King: North Korea says US soldier fled because of racism in army". BBC News. Archived from the original on November 29, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  11. ^ Bailey, Chelsea (September 27, 2023). "Travis King: How the US negotiates with North Korea". BBC News. Archived from the original on October 21, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Tong-Hyung, Kim (November 17, 2018). "A look at Americans who have been detained in North Korea". Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 20, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  15. ^ Gallagher, Linda (November 21, 2018). "Central Lake man released from North Korean prison". The Antrim Review. Archived from the original on October 20, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023.

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