Shocking Twist: Travis King's Fate Hangs in the Balance After North Korea Trip

Upon the return of Army Pvt. Travis King to the United States following his two-month captivity in North Korea, it remains uncertain whether he will be subject to disciplinary measures for crossing the demarcation line into North Korea. According to experts, there is a possibility that King could be subjected to charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, potentially under Article 85 for desertion or Article 86 for being Absent Without Leave (AWOL). However, it is currently unclear whether the Army will proceed with such actions.

Army Secretary Christine Wormuth stated that Pvt. King would undergo the reintegration process at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas before any potential discipline is determined by his chain of command. Wormuth emphasized that currently, the main focus is on the reintegration process rather than addressing the consequences for Pvt. King's actions.

Prior to his entrance into North Korea in July, King had already encountered legal issues and faced a court martial conducted by the South Korean Army. CNN had previously disclosed that King would likely be discharged from the military through administrative means after being convicted in a court martial proceeding concerning assault and various other charges.

On the day preceding his crossing into North Korea, King was scheduled to take a flight from Seoul back to the United States. However, officials informed CNN that instead of boarding the flight, King opted to participate in a tour of the Joint Security Area located within the demilitarized zone. Subsequently, he broke away from the group and ventured onto the North Korean side of the demarcation line.

Now, King is currently stationed at Joint Base San Antonio as part of his temporary duty orders, as he undergoes the reintegration process. The reintegration process, as explained by Army spokesperson Bryce Dubee, involves receiving medical care, decompression, and debriefing. Dubee also mentioned that King has been able to reunite with his family over the weekend.

According to Dubee, reintegration is a comprehensive procedure conducted by the Department of Defense (DoD) to coordinate various activities aimed at ensuring the well-being of the recovered individual. The ultimate goal of the process is to return the DoD member to duty in a physically and emotionally healthy state as quickly as possible.

A spokesperson for King and his family opted not to provide a comment.

According to Rachel VanLandingham, a retired Air Force judge advocate and military law expert at Southwestern Law School, it would be unexpected if the Army does not proceed with a court martial against King for crossing the border. However, she also mentioned that sending a message of deterrence is frequently taken into consideration when deciding whether to press charges.

She commented that in this situation, it's probably unnecessary.

"Are we truly of the belief that numerous soldiers will attempt to dash towards North Korea... The majority of soldiers, around 99.99%, do not require deterrence from engaging in such actions," she stated.

Army may want to avoid a full trial

According to Mark Cancian, a retired Marine Corps colonel and senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Army will probably opt to "simply eliminate him" rather than undergo the process of a complete trial.

"If they were to conduct another trial, they would need to assign him to a unit wherever he is located. He would be required to report to work daily until the court martial is completed. Subsequently, all the necessary materials would need to be reviewed by the Army headquarters, which could take six months or possibly longer," mentioned Cancian.

Additionally, the information that King is able to provide on North Korea may also play a role in the Army's decision-making process.

Referring to the case of Bowe Bergdahl, who admitted guilt in 2017 for desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, VanLandingham highlighted his actions in Afghanistan in 2009 when he left his post and was subsequently taken captive by the Taliban. During Bergdahl's trial, officials who debriefed him upon his return to US custody emphasized his remarkable willingness to cooperate by sharing valuable information about the Taliban and his time spent as their prisoner.

A representative from the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency at the Pentagon testified that Bergdahl displayed an exceptionally cooperative disposition during his debriefings upon returning to the US. Furthermore, an intelligence analyst reflected that the information he offered to the US was highly advantageous, comparing it to a valuable treasure trove.

VanLandingham stated that the court-martial could be influenced by certain factors, including the current actions of the individual in question and their level of cooperation with the intelligence personnel they are debriefing with.

Cancian expressed doubt that King possessed any intelligence that would hold significant importance, as his presence in the situation was relatively brief.

Referring King to a court-martial would ultimately result in the Army having to retain him for a longer period of time, according to Cancian. He mentioned that they probably have no interest in keeping King around due to his previous misconduct problems in South Korea. Instead, Cancian speculated that the Army would likely expedite his removal from service.

CNNs Natasha Bertrand contributed to this report.