Travis King

Travis Travale King (born February 15, 2000) is an American United States Army soldier known for crossing over the Military Demarcation Line in the Joint Security Area (JSA) into North Korea on July 18, 2023, while on a civilian tour of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

King was facing dishonorable discharge and additional disciplinary actions from the United States Army due to legal charges in South Korea, the country he was stationed in at the time of the crossing, as well as other cases of misconduct, insubordination, assault, attempted escape from U.S. military custody, and possession of child pornography, potentially prompting his crossing.

However, North Korean authorities asserted that King fled after becoming "disillusioned with the inequality of American society and racial discrimination in its Army."

King was detained by North Korea on July 18, 2023, and was released on September 27, 2023, back to U.S. authorities.

King was born on February 15, 2000, to father Thomas King and mother Claudine Gates.

King was the first known detention of a U.S. national by North Korea since Bruce Byron Lowrance in November 2018.

He grew up in Racine, Wisconsin, and attended Washington Park High School, graduating in 2020.

King enlisted in the United States Army in January 2021.

He became a cavalry scout and was assigned to 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, which arrived in South Korea in February 2022.

On September 25, 2022, King punched a South Korean man in the face multiple times at a nightclub in Seoul.

The victim did not press charges and the Seoul court dropped the case.

On October 8, 2022, at 3:46 Korean Standard Time (7 October 18:46 UTC), King was involved in an altercation with South Korean locals in Mapo, Seoul.

When police officers tried to question him, he continued with his aggressive behavior without answering questions from the officers.

He was placed in the backseat of a police car where he shouted expletives and insults against Koreans, the Korean army, and the Korean police, such as “Asians can’t see over the steering wheel”.

He also kicked the police vehicle's door several times, causing about ₩584,000 (US$458) in damages.

He later pleaded guilty to assault and destruction of public goods and paid ₩1 million (US$783) to fix the vehicle.

It was also reported that he did not pay a fine, but instead chose to be remanded into South Korean detention for more than a month.

Because of this incident, King stayed behind in South Korea when his unit returned to the United States.

King was then administratively attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

Following charges of assault, King was fined ₩5 million (US$3,950) on February 8, 2023, by the Seoul Western District Court which he failed to pay.

He was then held for 47 days at a South Korean detention facility in Cheonan before being released on July 10, 2023.

After his release, King spent a week at a United States military base Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek under observation.

He completed out-processing from the facility on July 17, 2023, and was escorted to Incheon International Airport the next day, as far as customs checkpoint.

The military escort had no ticket and was not allowed past the checkpoint.

King continued into the terminal alone as a result.

King was to board a flight to Fort Bliss, Texas, for "pending administrative separation actions for foreign conviction" in the United States, but instead fled the airport, approaching an American Airlines employee and claiming he was missing his passport.

After leaving the airport, King joined a group of tourists on a civilian tour of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) at Panmunjom, and on July 18, 2023, at 15:27 Korean Standard Time (06:27 UTC), crossed the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) in the Joint Security Area (JSA) into North Korea.

Witnesses claim that King, dressed in black, suddenly ran to the North Korean side of the Military Demarcation Line while the tour was ongoing, making a loud "laughing" noise while running.

Soldiers from the southern side chased after King.

It is believed that King was taken into North Korean custody after being picked up by an unidentified van.

A U.S. Forces Korea spokesperson stated that King "willfully and without authorization crossed the Military Demarcation Line into the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)," and on July 20, 2023, the United States Department of Defense declared King to be absent without leave (AWOL).

On July 24, 2023, the United Nations Command stated that they were in communication with the North Korean government regarding King.

On August 1, the North Korean government acknowledged the United Nations Command's request for information regarding King and stated that they are investigating the incident, but stopped short of providing detailed information about King's status at the time in North Korea.

As of August 4, 2023, the United States refused to classify King as a prisoner of war due to his decision to cross into North Korea of his own free will, while in civilian attire.

On August 15, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the primary news outlet of North Korea, confirmed that King was in the country, stating that King illegally crossed into the nation due to "inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination within the U.S. Army".

KCNA further stated that King "expressed his willingness to seek refuge in the DPRK or a third country, saying that he was disillusioned at the unequal American society".

On September 27, 2023, North Korean state media reported that King would be "expelled", and that he would be returned to American custody.

Later that day, without any demands from the North Korean government, the Swedish government, which is the U.S. diplomatic liaison in North Korea, brought King to the Chinese border city of Dandong where he was transferred into U.S. custody following several weeks of private negotiations.

From there, he was first flown to Shenyang and then to Osan Air Base in South Korea.

King was subsequently flown to Kelly Field at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas and arrived on September 28 around 12:30 a.m. Central Standard Time (05:30 UTC).