1776Reporting
In 1965, Charles Robert Jenkins, an American soldier, made a fateful decision that would change the course of his life. Fearing deployment to Vietnam, he defected to North Korea—a decision that led him to spend nearly four decades under the oppressive regime. His story is one of fear, regret, and an eventual return to a world he had long left behind.
Early Life and Military Enlistment
Born on February 18, 1940, in Rich Square, North Carolina, Jenkins grew up facing significant hardships. A sports injury and the loss of his father marked his early years, leaving him with limited options. With little hope for the future and no high school diploma, Jenkins joined the North Carolina National Guard at the age of 15, serving from 1955 to 1958. This early military service provided him with structure, but it was just the beginning of his tumultuous military career.
A Career in the US Army
After his time with the National Guard, Jenkins enlisted in the US Army, where he was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, as a light weapons infantryman. His service took him across the world, from South Korea to West Germany. By the time he was 24, he had already completed one tour in South Korea and was preparing for another in 1964. However, as rumors spread that his unit might be sent to Vietnam, Jenkins became increasingly anxious.
The Defection
On January 5, 1965, Jenkins took a drastic step to avoid serving in Vietnam. After drinking heavily, he left his post under the pretense of investigating a noise and crossed the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) into North Korea. His plan was to seek asylum with the Soviets, hoping they would eventually return him to the United States in a prisoner exchange. However, Jenkins quickly realized he had made a grave mistake.
Life in North Korea
Upon his arrival in North Korea, Jenkins was captured and interrogated. His hopes of a quick return to the US faded as he became a prisoner of the regime. “The biggest mistake I ever made,” he later admitted in a 2006 interview. His memoir, The Reluctant Communist: My Desertion, Court-Martial, and 40-Year Imprisonment in North Korea, details his regret and the harsh reality of living in what he described as a giant “prison.”
Jenkins was housed with three other American defectors, all of whom had crossed into North Korea between 1962 and 1963. The four men lived in dire conditions, subjected to beatings and forced to memorize the works of Kim Il-Sung. Their attempts to seek asylum through the Soviet embassy were unsuccessful, leaving them trapped in North Korea.
A Life of Forced Service
Despite being granted “citizenship,” Jenkins and the other defectors were far from free. They were closely monitored, with their homes bugged and surrounded by barbed wire. Jenkins was forced to work in various propaganda efforts, including teaching English to North Korean spies. His Southern accent, however, led to his dismissal from this role.
In 1980, Jenkins was forced into a marriage with Hitomi Soga, a Japanese woman kidnapped by North Korea. Despite the circumstances, the couple grew close, finding solace in each other’s company. They had two daughters, and their bond helped Jenkins endure the harsh conditions.
The Road to Freedom
Jenkins’ eventual release was thanks to Soga’s efforts. After Japan and North Korea signed the Pyongyang Declaration in 2002, Soga was allowed to visit Japan and never returned. She worked tirelessly to secure her husband’s release, though her efforts to obtain a US pardon were unsuccessful. Jenkins feared returning to Japan would lead to his execution for desertion, but in 2004, North Korea allowed him to leave. He was reunited with Soga in Indonesia before moving to Japan.
Upon returning to Japan, Jenkins faced a court-martial at Camp Zama. He pleaded guilty to desertion and aiding the enemy, resulting in a reduced sentence of 30 days in confinement, forfeiture of back pay, demotion, and a dishonorable discharge. Despite the sentence, Jenkins believed the trial was a formality to appease public opinion.
Life After North Korea
After serving his sentence, Jenkins settled in Japan with his family. He lived a quiet life, working at a local museum and enjoying his passion for motorcycling. However, the fear of North Korean retribution never left him. Jenkins passed away on December 11, 2017, at the age of 77, from cardiovascular disease.
Charles Robert Jenkins’ story is a stark reminder of the consequences of fear and the heavy price of decisions made in desperation. His life, marked by regret and hardship, serves as a cautionary tale of the unexpected outcomes that can arise from the desire to escape one difficult situation, only to end up in another far worse.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings