Travis King told officials he wouldn’t ‘return to America’ nearly a year before fleeing to North Korea

The New York Post ^ | 07/22/2023 | Matthew Sedacca

[thegagline]

American soldier Travis King had shown signs of possibly defecting from the Army nearly a year before he fled into North Korean territory, telling military officials while serving in South Korea that he would not “return to post or America.”

***

It was not the first sign of trouble for the Wisconsin native, who was facing assault allegations over a fight at a club on Sept. 25.

[On] Sept. 4, while serving at Camp Bonifas near the southern end of the Demilitarized Zone that separates North and South Korea, King skipped out on his daily formation and took off to a nearby city, ***

When the base managed to reach King, who served as a cavalry scout, he “refused to return to post or America,” a U.S. official told the outlet.

*** Asked whether Pyongyang might torture King, Blinken said: “There are certainly concerns based on what we’ve seen in the past and the way that North Korea has treated those it’s detained.”

King, an Army Private 2nd Class, was scheduled to return to the United States on Monday but managed to slip past his military escort and was seen wearing civilian clothes during a tour of the Joint Security Area inside the DMZ.

US officials said King had made a “deliberate decision” to enter North Korea, but have yet to explain how he managed to outsmart his handlers at Incheon International Airport — and make it all the way to the village of Panmunjom inside the DMZ the next day.

King, who reportedly shouted “ha ha ha” during his mad dash into North Korea, was heading to Fort Bliss after spending nearly two months at a South Korean detention center over the assault charge.

He faced a dishonorable discharge from the Army over his conviction, a defense source said.

[thegagline]

Army Private 2nd Class Travis King, 23, was accused of punching a man several times in the face at a club on September 25 last year, Seoul court records indicate.

Two weeks later, on October 8, Korean authorities responded to another dust-up involving King, who was allegedly displaying “aggressive behavior,” according to the court documents.

When police put him in the backseat of the patrol car, King reportedly spouted expletives and insults aimed at Koreans the South Korean army, and the police.

He then kicked the patrol car door several times, resulting in about 584,000 won, or $460, in damages, the ruling said.

King is a racist and a thug. Accordingly, Lloyd Austin and the Biden Administration will be calling for King to be awarded the Army’s Good Conduct Medal

[Not A Snowbird]

Revoke his passport and let him rot there.

[RetiredTexasVet]

Some escorts are in deep do-do! US military should be stating Travis who ... never heard of him.

[cherry]

he looks a little “light” in the loafers to me....

[Jonty30]

What an idiot. I hope he enjoys his digs.

[PGR88]

Indeed, don’t spend 1 minute trying to get him back.

[hanamizu]

Private second class. Don’t most get to PFC after being in the army for more than a year? Anyway, I imagine Private King is having an interesting time about now.

[ArcadeQuarters]

He’s where he wants to be. Enjoy.

[Jonty30]

He probably should have spoken to Private Charles Jenkins before he did this.

[Husker24]

Let him try that crap in North Korea, he’ll get the anti aircraft gun....if he’s lucky.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

#2: "Revoke his passport and let him rot there."

Yep. Buh bye. "Not my circus, not my …"

[Leep]

Guess he won’t miss his family?

[SaveFerris]

(“ha ha ha”)

He can live like a King in North Korea!

[alternatives?]

I guess he will find out how diverse North Korea’s military is.

[traderrob6]

Pretty sure that the North Koreans are not any to fond of “darkies”.

[windsorknot]

Enjoy your stay. Send us a postcard and plenty of pictures. Say, “Hello” to Rocket Man.

[rbg81]

Well....bye.

[Rlsau1]

This is his chance to enjoy life in “a worker’s paradise”.

[beethovenfan]

I bet he’s regretting his choice now.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

#12: "Guess he won’t miss his family fambley ?"

Fixed that for you! Hope this helps!