As per records acquired by Reuters, the United States Army has officially accused Private Travis King of various offenses. These charges span from desertion, stemming from his unauthorized entry into North Korea in July, to the solicitation of inappropriate images involving a minor and allegations of assaulting fellow American servicemen during his time in South Korea.
The case brought forth by the U.S. Army comprises a total of eight charges outlined within the Uniform Code of Military Justice. This development is expected to pave the way for a substantial legal confrontation for King, who was released from North Korean custody in September. Despite numerous media organizations seeking comments from the Army, none have received a response thus far.
A representative of the King family conveyed a message to Newsmax on behalf of Private King’s mother, Claudine Gates. In the statement, she emphasized her unwavering, unconditional love for her son and pledged her continuous support and presence by his side. Gates also requested that her son be granted the presumption of innocence, highlighting that the young man she raised and saw off to boot camp was not inclined towards alcohol consumption.
Gates went on to elaborate that a mother has an intimate understanding of her son and observed that something had transpired with Private King during his deployment to South Korea. In the conclusion of her letter, King’s mother mentioned that the U.S. Army had assured her of a comprehensive inquiry into the situation, and she expressed her anticipation for the findings.
In recent weeks, the military has declined to respond to inquiries regarding the potential for disciplinary measures against King, who was detained in North Korea for a period of two months. The army has consistently emphasized that its foremost concern is to guarantee that the King receives the appropriate care.
King’s liberation from North Korea occurred following several weeks of negotiations between American and North Korean representatives, with the Swedish government serving as intermediaries. Subsequent to his release, the private was transported to a military medical facility in Texas for comprehensive health assessments.