U.S. soldier who crossed into North Korea sentenced to time served
NBCOCT 1 2024
US Soldier Who Fled to NKorea Walks Free After Guilty Plea
Above: A man walks past a television showing a news broadcast featuring a photo of US soldier Travis King (C). Image copyright: Anthony Wallace/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
King faced a long list of serious charges that could have resulted in a far more severe punishment than he has received. However, the mental stress he was under at the time of his crimes — particularly in the wake of the death of his younger cousin — makes him deserving of this plea agreement. Both the Army and the King family are equally grateful to bring this ordeal to a close.
Establishment-critical narrative
This sentence is absurd. A 12-month confinement, already-served, being the only punishment for a soldier who very publicly deserted to North Korea is outrageously lenient, especially given that the maximum penalty for such an offense is execution. On top of that, serious child porn-related charges against King have mysteriously been dismissed. This result is an outrageous injustice.