Four Decades in North Korea

September 1, 2004 11:39 PM

Four Decades in North Korea: The Far Eastern Economic Review interviews Charles Robert Jenkins, who deserted the US Army in South Korea in 1965 and spent almost 40 years in North Korea. Enjoy a fascinating story that parallels the history of the Cold War and is still unfolding.
posted by gen (4 comments total)

Hard to imagine...

Jenkins expresses appreciation to the Japanese government, who made his wife’s freedom possible, and eventually took in him and his daughters. “It was not my intention whatsoever for the Japanese government to try to get me out of trouble,” Jenkins says. “And I really appreciate the Japanese government for all they have done for me.”

What he wants now is an end to a nearly four-decade Odyssey, as he prepares to turn himself over to the Americans. He has no interest in getting a civilian attorney. “The American Army has supplied, assigned a very capable man to me, to help me, bring me to military justice. I don’t think I need no civilians. All I want to do is clear myself with the American Army.”

posted by gen at 11:41 PM on September 1, 2004

What I mean is that it is hard to imagine:
1) deserting to N. Korea in the first place, and then
2) all of his trials in order to for him to get out of N. Korea
3) and then to turn himself in.
posted by gen at 11:43 PM on September 1, 2004

Thank you for the excellent post, gen.

Login info for Far East Economic Review (via BugMeNot.com)
posted by cup at 6:29 AM on September 2, 2004

Registration-free link to article
posted by zsazsa at 6:58 AM on September 2, 2004