WASHINGTON: A United States soldier who fled to North Korea last year will plead guilty to desertion at a court martial as part of a plea deal, his lawyer said.
Private Second Class Travis King ran across the border from South Korea into North Korea in July last year while on a sightseeing tour of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that divides the Korean Peninsula.
North Korea expelled King in September and the US Army later charged him with desertion and a raft of other crimes.
King’s lawyer Frank Rosenblatt said on Monday (Aug 26) that the US Army had charged the soldier with 14 offences and that he would plead guilty to five of them.
“He will plead guilty to five of those, including desertion, three counts of disobeying an officer, and assault on a non-commissioned officer,” Rosenblatt said in a statement.
“He will plead not guilty to the remaining offences, which the Army will withdraw and dismiss.”
King’s guilty plea and sentencing hearing would take place on Sep 20 at a court martial in Fort Bliss, Texas, the lawyer said.
“There, he will explain what he did, answer a military judge’s questions about why he is pleading guilty, and be sentenced,” Rosenblatt said.
Desertion carries a jail sentence of up to five years.
“Travis is grateful to his friends and family who have supported him, and to all those outside of his circle who did not pre-judge his case based on the initial allegations,” his lawyer said.
