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Thread: Army Private Travis King (23) missing after running across border into North Korea

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    Moderator Bewitchingstorm's Avatar
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    Army Private Travis King (23) missing after running across border into North Korea

    Full story here: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-p...GBW34C5D9MBjkI

    The United States on Thursday voiced mounting concern over Army Private Travis King, who dashed into North Korea two days ago, saying Pyongyang had a history of mistreating captured Americans.

    U.S. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth, in her first public comments on the case, said Washington was fully mobilized in trying to contact Pyongyang, including through United Nations communications channels.

    But North Korea had yet to offer any response, officials said.

    "I worry about him, frankly," Wormuth told the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado. She cited the case of Otto Warmbier, a U.S. college student who was imprisoned in North Korea for 17 months before dying shortly after he was returned to the United States in a coma in 2017.

    "I worry about how they may treat him. So, (we) want to get him back."

    At the White House, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby also expressed concern: "This is not a country that is known for humane treatment of Americans - or frankly anybody else for that matter."

    American officials remained stumped about why King ran across the border into North Korea. But Wormuth acknowledged he was likely worried about facing further disciplinary action from the Army upon his return home to the United States.

    She said she was not aware of any information demonstrating the 23-year-old was a North Korea sympathizer, and the Pentagon played down suggestions he might present an intelligence liability.

    Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said the U.S. Army's counter-intelligence office and U.S. forces in South Korea were carrying out an investigation into what drove King to make such a puzzling decision.

    King was on a civilian tour of the Panmunjom truce village on Tuesday when he dashed across the Military Demarcation Line that has separated the two Koreas since the Korean War ended with an armistice in 1953.

    King had been fined for assault while stationed in South Korea and had been detained for more than a month before being escorted to Incheon International Airport by the U.S. military for a commercial flight to Dallas, Texas, according to U.S. officials.

    Once past security checks, he told airline staff at the departure gate he had lost his passport and returned to the terminal, an airport official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

    Wormuth said King "may not have been thinking clearly, frankly."

    "He had assaulted an individual in South Korea and had been in custody of the South Korean government and was going to come back to the United States and face the consequences in the Army," she said. "I'm sure that he was grappling with that."
    Last edited by Bewitchingstorm; 07-21-2023 at 10:22 AM.

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    Moderator puzzld's Avatar
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    I saw somewhere, that his son had recently died and that some of his fellow soldiers feared he might harm himself. Maybe attempted suicide by border guards?
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    lol at Nestle being some vicious smiter, she's the nicest person on this site besides probably puzzld. Or at least the last person to resort to smiting.
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    Senior Member KimTisha's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by puzzld View Post
    I saw somewhere, that his son had recently died and that some of his fellow soldiers feared he might harm himself. Maybe attempted suicide by border guards?
    This makes more sense than anything else I can think of. I'm afraid this isn't going to end well. I don't know what he did in the military, but NK will surely believe he has valuable intel. If I were his mother I would be beside myself.
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    Moderator Bewitchingstorm's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by puzzld View Post
    I saw somewhere, that his son had recently died and that some of his fellow soldiers feared he might harm himself. Maybe attempted suicide by border guards?
    Wow, I hadn't heard that. It definitely could explain why he did what he did.

  6. #6
    Senior Member marshmallow's Avatar
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    "Professor Yang Moo-jin of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul told CBS News that even if King defected with the intention of staying, he's likely to change his mind.

    "He would not blend in with the North Korean society and would ask to be sent back to the States," he said."


    I read that as "even if King defecated with the intention of staying" and had to go back and read it again. My question is this: what if we don't want him either?
    Marshmallow here is the one I liken to Ed Gein... Originally Posted by Heartbroken1


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    Quote Originally Posted by marshmallow View Post
    "Professor Yang Moo-jin of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul told CBS News that even if King defected with the intention of staying, he's likely to change his mind.

    "He would not blend in with the North Korean society and would ask to be sent back to the States," he said."


    I read that as "even if King defecated with the intention of staying" and had to go back and read it again. My question is this: what if we don't want him either?
    I just saw a headline that said he is now back in US custody. So I guess we're getting him back whether we want him or not. I feel like he should face some charges here in the US.

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    Moderator puzzld's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by raisedbywolves View Post
    I just saw a headline that said he is now back in US custody. So I guess we're getting him back whether we want him or not. I feel like he should face some charges here in the US.
    Well, he was already facing discipline before he made his run for the border, so I imagine he'll do some time in Leavenworth or some such place.
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    lol at Nestle being some vicious smiter, she's the nicest person on this site besides probably puzzld. Or at least the last person to resort to smiting.
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    Moderator Bewitchingstorm's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by raisedbywolves View Post
    I just saw a headline that said he is now back in US custody. So I guess we're getting him back whether we want him or not. I feel like he should face some charges here in the US.
    I hope he gets some mental health care. Dude has some issues

  10. #10
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    https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/...held-104161813

    Army private who fled to North Korea charged with desertion, held by US military, officials tell AP

    An Army private who fled to North Korea before being returned home to the United States last month has been detained by the U.S. military, two officials said Thursday night, and is facing charges including desertion and possessing sexual images of a child.

    The eight counts against Pvt. Travis King are detailed in a charging document seen by The Associated Press. The officials who confirmed King's confinement spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the charges have not been publicly announced.
    Desertion is a very serious charge and can result in imprisonment for as much as three years. King is also accused of kicking and punching other officers last year, unlawfully possessing alcohol, making a false statement and possessing a video of a child engaged in sexual activity. That allegation dates to July 10, the same day he was released from a South Korean prison where he had served nearly two months on assault charges.

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    Scoopski Potatoes Nic B's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by raisedbywolves View Post
    https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/...held-104161813

    Army private who fled to North Korea charged with desertion, held by US military, officials tell AP
    He's a pedo? Good riddance.


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    https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/us...e3d35ed9&ei=53

    The US soldier who ran across the border from South to North Korea last year was sentenced Friday to one year in confinement and dishonorable discharge after pleading guilty to charges of desertion and assault.

    Pvt. Travis King pleaded guilty at a court martial in Fort Bliss, Texas, to one count – or specification – of desertion, one count of assault on a noncommissioned officer and three counts of disobeying a superior commissioned officer, according to a statement from the US Army Office of Special Trial Counsel.

    King was also reduced in rank to an E1, the lowest enlisted rank as well as forfeiture of pay and allowances. The time King spent in confinement after his apprehension will count toward his sentence, the Army said.

    “With time already served and credit for good behavior, Travis is now free and will return home,” King’s attorneys said in a statement.

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    What do you care? Boston Babe 73's Avatar
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    What about the kiddie porn?!?!?! WTF. Did they just forget about that part?
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