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Mom of US soldier Travis King who defected to North Korea can’t imagine son ‘doing anything like that’
The New York Post ^ | 07/19/2023 | Allie Griffin

Posted on 07/18/2023 10:19:36 PM PDT by thegagline

The mother of the US soldier who has been detained in North Korea after crossing into the country without authorization said the risky behavior was unlike her son.

The 23-year-old Army private, Travis King, was stationed in South Korea and was on a tour of the demilitarized zone between the two countries Tuesday when he strayed from the group and ran across the border.

“I can’t see Travis doing anything like that,” Claudine Gates, of Racine, Wisconsin, told ABC News.

She said she last spoke to her son a few days ago and just wanted him to come home.

King was facing military disciplinary charges while stationed in South Korea after having served time at a prison in the country over assault charges. He was supposed to fly back to the US and was escorted by military personnel to the airport but he left past the security checkpoint and skipped his flight.

Instead, he joined the tour of the Joint Security Area in the demilitarized zone.

Another tourist on the tour, Mikaela Johansson of Sweden, claimed King loudly laughed as he ran between two buildings into the Hermit Kingdom.

US officials said King, a private second class who has served in the Army for approximately two years, “deliberately” crossed the border into the closed-off and secretive country.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: assault; awol; defection; defector; desertion; korea; military; travisking
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To: thegagline

Apparently he of his own volition walked across the border. That by definition is defection. It is now his problem and not ours.


21 posted on 07/18/2023 11:37:15 PM PDT by cpdiii (cane cutter-deckhand-roughneck-geologist- instructor pilot-almost chemist-pharmacist-retired.)
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To: DoughtyOne

Otto wasn’t a defector, so he was treated horribly. Looks like this guy is a willing defector, so he may get treated royally and used as a spokesperson to endorse/promote whatever propaganda line the Norks want to feed their people, such as how bad the US treats blacks. And they may use him as an Ebonics or slang instructor for training their spies.


22 posted on 07/18/2023 11:54:11 PM PDT by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge)
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To: montanajoe

Exactly what I thought

Nasty meanies in the military holding him down. He didn’t know basic Is hard


23 posted on 07/19/2023 12:20:24 AM PDT by Nifster ( I see puppy dogs in the clouds )
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To: thegagline
He likely defected for the chicks... Like this loser did.


24 posted on 07/19/2023 1:02:57 AM PDT by jerod (Nazi's were essentially Socialist in Hugo Boss uniforms... Get over it!)
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To: thegagline

Why, in situations such this, does Mom’s last name never seem to match the son’s?


25 posted on 07/19/2023 2:12:12 AM PDT by Apparatchik (If you find yourself in a confusing situation, simply laugh knowingly and walk away - Jim Ignatowski)
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To: thegagline
Late 70's Ft Bliss I'm doing my periodic check on fighting positions during an FTX (Field Training Exercise), come to a one man position and sitting in the foxhole is a young female in shorts and tube top, crying her eyes out holding an M16. First thing in my mind comes out my mouth: "Who the F#^&k are you and where is PFC Jones? (name changed to protect the shitbird, who was chaptered out and, according to Face Book is working in a tire store in NM). "We were fighting when he left to go to the field so I drove out to make up. He took my car and gave me his gun."

Had a really fun time briefing the Bn Cdr and CSM on that one.

Point being a GI can F@ck up an anvil with a rubber crowbar.

26 posted on 07/19/2023 3:21:22 AM PDT by Feckless (The US Gubbmint / This Tagline CENSORED by FR \ IrOnic, ain't it?)
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To: twister881
"The U.S. armed forces used to deal with the bad conduct of their own and not allow service members to serve time in foreign jails or prisons, including for crimes against host nation citizens. The United States has a status of forces agreement (SOFA) with the ROKs; King should have been handed over immediately to U.S. military authorities for NJP or court martial."

That's not exactly correct. Under the US-ROK SOFA, SOFA members who violate ROK law in areas under ROK jurisdiction (i.e. off post) are subject to ROK prosecution. At least as far back as the 90s when I commanded an MP company in Korea, there was a special wing at Cheonan Prison specifically for SOFA members who had received sentences in ROK courts under ROK law. There were provisions for them to receive regular visits/inspections by US military authorities, but they were, to be sure, prisoners of the ROK correctional system.

The SOFA does give the ROKs some latitude. If two GIs get in a brawl in downtown Itaewon, then it's likely they'd be turned over to the US military, but if they busted out the window of a Korean storefront or beat the snot out of a Korean shopkeeper, chances are they're going to face charges, trial and potential incarceration under the Korean system.

27 posted on 07/19/2023 3:37:11 AM PDT by Joe 6-pack
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To: thegagline

they will name a base after him eventually.


28 posted on 07/19/2023 3:59:30 AM PDT by ronniesgal (friends don't let friends be Kardashians)
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To: NWFree

Enjoy the non white male military.
I figure in a decade we’ll be as competent as Brazil.


29 posted on 07/19/2023 3:59:39 AM PDT by EEGator
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To: thegagline

He will likely come home in a body bag. Poor Mama.


30 posted on 07/19/2023 4:04:33 AM PDT by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: DoughtyOne

I would give the North Koreans a two word Communica, “ Dog Food “


31 posted on 07/19/2023 4:04:57 AM PDT by spincaster
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To: ronniesgal

The Bowe Bergdhal command HQ at Fort King!


32 posted on 07/19/2023 4:05:10 AM PDT by Jaysin (Trump can’t be beat, unless the democrats cheat)
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To: thegagline

He’s a gay blakk. Should be worth a thousand or so spies and saboteurs in the Biden social economy.


33 posted on 07/19/2023 4:17:29 AM PDT by Nervous Tick (Jesus is LORD and Savior! And Donald Trump is President of the United States of America.)
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To: Apparatchik

>> Why, in situations such this, does Mom’s last name never seem to match the son’s?

Did you look at his picture? You’ll find the answer there.

(I know it’s a rhetorical question.)


34 posted on 07/19/2023 4:18:37 AM PDT by Nervous Tick (Jesus is LORD and Savior! And Donald Trump is President of the United States of America.)
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To: thegagline

A fk up, running away from punishment, runs to communist NK... and there are people on this thread expressing sorrow for this guy!!??

...and we wonder how out country has fallen so far. He’s a GD Disgrace!!!!!


35 posted on 07/19/2023 4:20:05 AM PDT by sit-rep
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To: thegagline

He was a good kid and aspiring rapper. /s


36 posted on 07/19/2023 4:33:32 AM PDT by joma89 (Buy weapons and ammo, folks, and have the will to use them.)
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To: cpdiii

Jack Poso 🇺🇸
@JackPosobiec

PICTURED: US soldier, 23, who ran into North Korea after being released from South Korea prison for kicking a cop car

dailymail.co.uk
Travis King identified as soldier who ran into North Korea

5:53 AM · Jul 19, 2023

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12313451/PICTURED-soldier-defected-North-Korea-whisked-away-van-released-South-Korea-jail-kicking-cop-car-mom-slaps-claims-fled-just-wants-come-home.html


37 posted on 07/19/2023 4:49:09 AM PDT by Macho MAGA Man (The last two weren't balloons. One was a cylindrical objects )
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To: thegagline

A FAFO moment for him. Will he be slaving in a factory or in the fields harvesting while singing the praises of ‘dear leader’?


38 posted on 07/19/2023 4:57:46 AM PDT by dynachrome (War does not determine who is right, but who is left.)
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To: thegagline

“Thank you for your service!”


39 posted on 07/19/2023 5:22:53 AM PDT by larrytown (A Cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do. Then they graduate...)
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To: thegagline

“Thank you for your service!”


40 posted on 07/19/2023 5:22:53 AM PDT by larrytown (A Cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do. Then they graduate...)
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