Travis King, Record Space Mission, and the Loneliness Epidemic

US Defector Returned

North Korea released US soldier Travis King into the custody of Swedish officials yesterday, two months after the 23-year-old crossed the heavily fortified demilitarized zone separating North from South Korea. King is expected to undergo a medical examination and mental health screening in Texas before likely facing military discipline.

The rare and unexplained foray into North Korea by an American triggered a minor international crisis, requiring weeks of mediation from Sweden, the United States' primary diplomatic channel in North Korea. The US and North Korea do not have formal diplomatic relations. US officials claim no concessions were required for his release.

King had served time at a detention facility for reportedly kicking a South Korean police car and was being escorted back to the United States in July to face discipline. He managed to slip through airport security and join a border tour before willfully crossing into North Korea. Read up on other US citizens entering North Korea here.

A Year in Space

NASA astronaut Frank Rubio returned to Earth early yesterday, capping a yearlong stay aboard the International Space Station. At 371 days, Rubio's voyage is the longest single spaceflight by an American astronaut in NASA history. 

Having initially launched last September, Rubio was scheduled to return in late March. Halfway through the mission, a stream of particles was observed emanating from the docked return craft. It was later determined a micrometeor—tiny space rocks traveling at average speeds of 22,000 mph—had punctured a 0.03-inch hole in the vehicle's cooling line. The incident required a replacement vessel to be sent to ISS, delaying the crew's return by six months. Rubio parachuted into Kazakhstan where he was immediately met by NASA officials, along with two Russian cosmonauts who endured the same tenure in space (see video).  

The record for the longest continuous time in space at 437 days was set by Russian Valeri Polyakov in 1994-95. 

Menendez Defiant 

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and his wife pleaded not guilty to criminal bribery charges in a federal court in Manhattan yesterday, as more than half of Senate Democrats call on the 69-year-old lawmaker to resign.

Federal prosecutors allege Menendez, who currently seeks a fourth term in the Senate next year, and his wife accepted roughly $500K in cash, at least $100K worth of gold bars, and a Mercedes-Benz convertible in exchange for aiding the Egyptian government, including sharing sensitive US information (see previous write-up). A judge yesterday prohibited Menendez from foreign travel except for official business with notifying the court. Menendez maintains he will be cleared from the charges and that the cash found in his home was from personal savings, not bribes.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) and at least 28 of the 48 Senate Democrats, including No. 2-ranking Sen. Dick Durbin (IL), No. 3-ranking Sen. Debbie Stabenow (MI), and Sen. Cory Booker (NJ), have pushed for Menendez to step down this week. Menendez is expected to address Senate Democrats today. 

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