Charles Robert Jenkins (born February 18, 1940) is a former United States Army soldier who lived in North Korea from 1965 to 2004 after deserting his unit and crossing the DMZ. February 18 is the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The United States Army is the largest branch of the armed forces of the United States. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses of Desertion, see Abandonment. ... Map of the Korean DMZ. The DMZ is given in red. ...

Military service and desertion

Jenkins was born in Rich Square, North Carolina. He joined the National Guard in 1955, well below the minimum enlistment age. He joined the army in 1958 and was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division. He served in South Korea from 1960 to 1961, in Europe to 1964, and in South Korea again. Rich Square is a town in Northampton County, North Carolina, United States. ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area  Ranked 28th  - Total 53,865 sq mi (139,509 km²)  - Width 150 miles (240 km)  - Length 560[1] miles (901 km)  - % water 9. ... The United States National Guard is a component of the United States Army (the Army National Guard) and the United States Air Force (the Air National Guard). ... 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The 1st Cavalry Division (1st Cav Div) is a heavy armored division of the United States Army with base of operations in Fort Hood, Texas. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ...

In South Korea, Jenkins was assigned to night patrols. As a result of fears that he would be transferred to combat duty in Vietnam, he started drinking alcohol. One night, after reportedly drinking 10 beers, he set off on his nightly patrol of the Demilitarized Zone. In the early morning of January 5, 1965, he told his patrol that he was going to investigate a noise. He subsequently crossed into North Korea and surrendered to forces there, in hopes of being sent to Russia and eventually America. Shortly thereafter, North Korean propaganda declared that a U.S. sergeant had defected, and broadcast alleged statements by the defector, reportedly in stilted English. The U.S. Army claimed Jenkins wrote four letters stating his intention to defect, the original copies of which were lost. His relatives maintained throughout his absence that he was abducted. January 5 is the 5th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Soviet Propaganda Poster during the World War II. The text reads Red Army Fighter, SAVE US! Chinese propaganda poster from during the Cultural Revolution. ... A defector is a person who gives up allegiance to one political entity in exchange for allegiance to another. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

Life in North Korea

Information about Jenkins' status was unavailable outside North Korea for many years. Jenkins says he almost immediately regretted his defection, and spent the next 40 years paying for it. He says that he and three other U.S. servicemen were quarantined in a one-room house with no running water until 1972, where they were made to study the Juche philosophy of Kim Il-sung. They were forced to memorize large passages of Kim's in Korean, and beaten frequently. He says that at one point in 1966, he found his way to the Soviet embassy in Pyongyang and requested asylum, which was denied. Eventually, Jenkins was placed in separate housing and began teaching English at the Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies. His very thick North Carolina accent interfered with the government's goal of teaching spies English so that they could pass as South Korean, and when the North Koreans realized this, he was fired from that job. Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Manse Manse! Kim Jong Il! The Juche Idea (also Juche Sasang or Chuche; pronounced // in Korean, approximately joo-cheh) is the official state ideology of North Korea and the political system based on it. ... Kim Il-sung (15 April 1912 – 8 July 1994) was the leader of North Korea from its founding in 1948 until his death, when he was succeeded by his son Kim Jong-il. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... Soviet redirects here. ... Not to be confused with PyeongChang. ...

In 1980, Jenkins was introduced to Hitomi Soga, a 21-year-old Japanese nurse who had been abducted by North Korean agents in 1978, along with her mother, during a search for Japanese citizens who could train future spies in Japanese language and culture. Soga's mother was never heard from again, and Soga was "given to" Jenkins. The North Koreans had paired a number of Asians with people of European descent, with the assumption that North Korean spies could pass more effectively as South Korean if they were of Eurasian heritage, which is not uncommon in South Korea, but almost unheard of in North Korea. Soga and Jenkins fell in love, and thirty-eight days after meeting, they were married. They had two daughters, Roberta Mika Jenkins (born 1983) and Brinda Carol Jenkins (born 1985, often called "Belinda" in English media). In 1982, Jenkins appeared in the propaganda film Nameless Heroes, which provided the first evidence that he was alive. The U.S. government did not publicly reveal this information until 1996. Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... Unsung Heroes, also known as Unknown Heroes or more literally as Nameless Heroes, is a North Korean film series about a spy in Seoul during the Korean War. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ...

Charles Robert Jenkins reporting for duty at Camp Zama This work is copyrighted. ... The Provost Marshal is the officer in the armed forces who is in charge of the military police (often called the provost). ... In the U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a commissioned officer superior to a major and inferior to a colonel. ... Camp Zama ) is a United States Army post located in the cities of Zama and Sagamihara, in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, about 40 kilometers southwest of Tokyo. ... The Associated Press, or AP, is an American news agency, the worlds largest such organization. ...

Confirmation and return

Jenkins drew international interest again in 2002, when North Korean leader Kim Jong-il confirmed that North Korea had abducted Japanese citizens. In an effort at detente, surviving abductees were allowed to travel to Japan, including Jenkins' wife. The visit was intended to last for a week, but the Japanese government persuaded them to remain longer while it negotiated for their families to join them. Most of the families did ultimately travel to Japan, but Jenkins stayed behind out of fear that the North Korean government was testing his loyalty. After assurances of protection from the Japanese government, he traveled with his daughters to Japan by way of Indonesia for medical treatment, arriving in Japan on July 18, 2004. Japan formally requested a pardon for Jenkins, which the U.S. declined to grant. After expressing a desire to put his conscience at rest, Jenkins reported on September 11 to Camp Zama in Japan. He reported in respectful military form, saluting the receiving military police officer. For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... Kim Jong-il (also written as Kim Jong Il) (born February 16, 1942) is the leader of North Korea. ... July 18 is the 199th day (200th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 166 days remaining. ... September 11 is the 254th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (255th in leap years). ... Camp Zama ) is a United States Army post located in the cities of Zama and Sagamihara, in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, about 40 kilometers southwest of Tokyo. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Branch insignia of the Military Police Corps The Military Police Corps is the law enforcement of the United States Armed Forces. ...

On November 3, Jenkins pled guilty to charges of desertion and aiding the enemy, but denied making disloyal or seditious statements—the latter charges were dropped. He was sentenced to 30 days confinement and received a dishonorable discharge, being released six days early, on November 27, 2004, for good behavior. November 3 is the 307th day of the year (308th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 58 days remaining. ... is the 331st day of the year (332nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Jenkins and his family settled on Sado Island in Japan, which is Soga's home. On June 14, 2005, Jenkins, his wife, and two daughters traveled to the United States to visit his 91-year-old mother in North Carolina, returning later in the month. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Sado, Niigata. ... June 14 is the 165th day of the year (166th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area  Ranked 28th  - Total 53,865 sq mi (139,509 km²)  - Width 150 miles (240 km)  - Length 560[1] miles (901 km)  - % water 9. ...

There were three other American deserters who remained North Korea as well: James Joseph Dresnok, subject of a documentary, Crossing the Line, Private Larry Allen Abshier, and Specialist Jerry Wayne Parrish. The former two defected in 1962, while the latter defected in 1963. As of 2007, Dresnok is happily living in North Korea; he does not seem to regret his defection.^[1][2]. According to North Korean official reports, Abshier and Parrish have since died of natural causes while living in that country.^[1] James Joseph Dresnok (born 1941) is an American defector to North Korea. ... Private Larry Allen Abshier of the U.S. Army was one of four American troops to defect to North Korea. ... 2007 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Memoirs

Jenkins published a book in Japanese in October of 2005, titled To Tell The Truth (Japanese: 告白; Romaji: kokuhaku; ISBN 4-04-791510-6), about his experiences in North Korea. A Korean-language edition was also released in June 2006 by Mulpure Publishing.[1] As of September 2006, no English-language edition has yet been published, though Jenkins himself states that he is looking for a publisher.[2] Japanese writing Kanji 漢字 Kana 仮名 Hiragana 平仮名 Katakana 片仮名 Uses Furigana 振り仮名 Okurigana 送り仮名 Romaji ローマ字 The title given to this article lacks diacritics because of certain technical limitations. ...

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "An American in North Korea," 60 Minutes, CBS Television. Produced by Robert G. Anderson and Casey Morgan. Reported by Bob Simon. First Broadcast on January 28, 2007.
2. ^ An American in North Korea, Pledging Allegiance to the Great Leader; New York Times; October 19, 2006

• Eric Talmadge "Deserter Adjusting to Life on Japan Island". Associated Press. January 31, 2005.
• "U.S. Army Deserter to Seek U.S. Passport". Associated Press. February 28, 2005.

The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ... October 19 is the 292nd day of the year (293rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

See also

• List of American defectors in the Korean War
• James Joseph Dresnok
• Larry Allen Abshier of Urbana, Illinois went missing from his unit in May 1962 at age 19
• Jerry Wayne Parrish of Morganfield, Kentucky deserted in December 1963 at age 19

This is a list of the twenty-two United Nations soldiers and POWs (one Briton and 21 Americans) who declined repatriation to the United States after the Korean War, and their subsequent fates. ... James Joseph Dresnok (born 1941) is an American defector to North Korea. ... Private Larry Allen Abshier of the U.S. Army was one of four American troops to defect to North Korea. ... A snowy day in Carle Park west of the Urbana High School. ... Morganfield is a city located in Union County, Kentucky. ...

External links

• FEER interview with Jenkins, September 1, 2004
• Asia Times - The strange saga of Charles Robert Jenkins
• BBC News - North Korea's mystery guest
• TIME Asia Magazine - The Long Mistake
• US deserter reunited with mother
• "Last Surviving US defector to North Korea speaks out", from the Korea Times, August 19, 2004
• "Deserter Recalls N. Korean Hell" - Interview of Jenkins by Scott Pelley of CBS's 60 Minutes
• "Kokuhaku: Pictures", "Kokuhaku: Pictures 2" - Photos and translations from Jenkins' book published in Japan.