US soldier Travis King, who sought refuge in North Korea before being repatriated home last month, is allegedly confronted with multiple charges, such as desertion, as well as the solicitation and possession of explicit images involving minors.

Additionally, it is reported that he is facing charges related to assaulting fellow soldiers. In July, the reconnaissance specialist illicitly crossed into North Korea during a guided tour of a border village.

Ultimately, Pyongyang released him without providing further information. Although the charges have not been officially announced, it seems that he is confronted with a total of eight charges, according to the Associated Press.

The 23-year-old could potentially be imprisoned solely for the act of desertion after his July excursion to North Korea. Private King is also accused of displaying a pattern of misconduct prior to his escape to North Korea, which includes an attempted escape from US military custody in October 2022, as reported by Reuters news agency.

He is further alleged to have solicited a Snapchat user in July 2023 to "intentionally and knowingly create child pornography" and to have been in possession of child pornography.

His mother, Claudine Gates, asked that her son "be afforded the presumption of innocence".

Pvt King was on duty with the US Army when he crossed the North Korean border.

He had been in the Army since January 2021 and was based in South Korea as part of a rotation.

Prior to sprinting into North Korea, Pvt King had served two months in detention in South Korea on charges that he assaulted two people and kicked a police car.

He was released from custody on 10 July - eight days before he crossed the country's border with Pyongyang.

His release deal was brokered by Swedish officials, who brought Pvt King to North Korea's border with China.

Little is known about how he was treated in North Korea, why he fled there in the first place and why Pyongyang decided to free him.

Noted