U.S. 'defector' to turn himself in
Wednesday, September 1, 2004 Posted: 6:12 AM EDT (1012 GMT)
TOKYO, Japan (CNN) -- Charles Robert Jenkins, a one-time U.S. Army sergeant accused of defecting to North Korea 39 years ago, has said he will soon surrender to military authorities to "face the charges that have been filed against me."
Jenkins, 65, who has been recovering from surgery, gave no firm timetable for his surrender.
But in a letter released by the Japanese government, he said, "I hope I will very shortly be healthy enough to leave the hospital."
In the letter Jenkins said he intended to "voluntarily report to Camp Zama ... to begin the process that will bring closure to my pending legal situation."
The U.S. military had no immediate comment.
"We have nothing official to say," Col. Victor Warzinski, spokesman for U.S. Forces Japan, told The Associated Press.
"It's an issue we will continue to monitor."
Jenkins and his two daughters left North Korea in early July and went to Indonesia -- a country that has no extradition treaty with the United States -- and was reunited with his Japanese wife.
The family had been separated for two years. Previously they lived in North Korea.
Some officials hope Jenkins could provide the United States with valuable information on the reclusive communist nation, which Washington accuses of having a nuclear weapons program.
Jenkins' wife, Hitomi Soga, arrived in North Korea in 1978 after she was kidnapped by agents for North Korea.
She was one of at least 15 Japanese citizens grabbed to help train North Korean spies.
But in 2002, she returned to her homeland as part of a program to improve bilateral relations between Japan and North Korea.
Fourteen years ago, while still being held in North Korea, she met and married Jenkins, an American soldier who disappeared from his U.S. Army unit near Korea's De-Militarized Zone (DMZ) in 1965.
After his disappearance, Jenkins appeared in propaganda films and lived in North Korea for nearly four decades.
Afraid he would be arrested and extradited to the United States, Jenkins did not join his wife when she left for Japan two years ago.
During that time, he and his two daughters, Mika and Belinda, waited for Soga's return while Japan, North Korea and the United States debated their fate.
Japan has urged the United States to treat Jenkins with leniency.
What are your thoughts on what to do with him? My father was of course calling for blood on this guy. That he should be hung for treason or at the very least life imprisonment.
I on the other hand agree with Japan on this on. The guy is 68 years old, he's lived in NK most of his life. He's coming back home, most likely to die and his time has passed. What would we gain from coming down hard on this guy? Ohhhh...we jailed a near octaganarian. That'll teach our troops not to defect. The guy has lived as an outsider in NK most of his life, and most likely as an outsider now that he's back home. I say let the poor bastard live out the rest of his life. There is no justice in prosecuting this man now.
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Stravo wrote:What are your thoughts on what to do with him? My father was of course calling for blood on this guy. That he should be hung for treason or at the very least life imprisonment.
I on the other hand agree with Japan on this on.
You cannot selectively apply laws that are laid down for everyone. He knew what he was doing by defecting, and he should face the full repercussions for his actions.
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Fuck him!
Let him be left alone, but persona non grata in ther USA.
Die in Japan you treasonous asshole.
If he tries to come "home," deport him, back to NK.
This shit head not only betreyed his oath, country and bothers in arms, but apeared in enemy propaganda. He activly worked for an evil cause.
This man has NO place for him here.
If he made it to America, I would make his remainng years of life HELL if he was within driving distances.
I bet lots of my fellow VFW friends would help too.
Hmmmmmm.
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Darth Wong wrote:What makes you think he wants to go to the US? It looks like he plans to stay in Indonesia precisely because it has no extradition treaty with the US.
TOKYO, Japan (CNN) -- Charles Robert Jenkins, a one-time U.S. Army sergeant accused of defecting to North Korea 39 years ago, has said he will soon surrender to military authorities to "face the charges that have been filed against me."
Jenkins, 65, who has been recovering from surgery, gave no firm timetable for his surrender.
But in a letter released by the Japanese government, he said, "I hope I will very shortly be healthy enough to leave the hospital."
In the letter Jenkins said he intended to "voluntarily report to Camp Zama ... to begin the process that will bring closure to my pending legal situation."
The U.S. military had no immediate comment.
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But if the US made it clear they wanted to deport him (as Emp suggests), why wouldn't he just go back to Indonesia? Or do we figure they should throw him in prison?
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Darth Wong wrote:But if the US made it clear they wanted to deport him (as Emp suggests), why wouldn't he just go back to Indonesia? Or do we figure they should throw him in prison?
Punishing him will do jack & shit. What he endured in North Korea is likely worse then what the US would possibly punish him for. The US would be better off to simply dismiss charges so long as he cooperates and spills the beans.
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Master of Ossus wrote:So what? He defected. He should be punished to discourage others from ignoring the rules and to maintain the rule of law.
He did what exactly that was so all and terrible? He defected to a shithole country and lived there for 30+ years. You seriously think that punishing him will do jackshit? People who defect to countries like North Korea aren't going to care what the rules are, they are already screwed up.
Why? What information can he possibly have on North Korea? Further, why is it in the US's interest to dismiss the charges even if he does talk?
North Korea is the most closed country in the world. We know more about Osama's whereabouts then we know about North Korea.
Now answer this. How is it in the US's best interest to charge a 68 year old man for defecting to a shithole country. I should think his self impossed punishment (living in North Korea) is more then the US could reasonably punish him for.
"If the facts are on your side, pound on the facts. If the law is on your side, pound on the law. If neither is on your side, pound on the table."
"The captain claimed our people violated a 4,000 year old treaty forbidding us to develop hyperspace technology. Extermination of our planet was the consequence. The subject did not survive interrogation."
Im with Alyeska on this and I have to say that I really don't give a shit. He's just an old fart, its not like he committed any atrocities or anything.
At most and only to satisfy "the rule of law" I would put him in a minimum security prison for a few years. But if it were really up to me I wouldnt bother, its just not worth it IMO.
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Now answer this. How is it in the US's best interest to charge a 68 year old man for defecting to a shithole country. I should think his self impossed punishment (living in North Korea) is more then the US could reasonably punish him for.
Because he commited Treason. He should at least be tried.
"The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles."
Treason is Treaon. It doesn't matter if your a 68 year old who defected to a shithole country doing absolutely nothing of consequence or if your a CIA opperative who gave secrets to China.
"If the facts are on your side, pound on the facts. If the law is on your side, pound on the law. If neither is on your side, pound on the table."
"The captain claimed our people violated a 4,000 year old treaty forbidding us to develop hyperspace technology. Extermination of our planet was the consequence. The subject did not survive interrogation."
I've yet to see anyone actualy prove this guy deserves death. They keep saying "treason". What the hell did he do that merits death? Defecting to a shithole country shouldn't merit death. It should merit mockery.
"If the facts are on your side, pound on the facts. If the law is on your side, pound on the law. If neither is on your side, pound on the table."
"The captain claimed our people violated a 4,000 year old treaty forbidding us to develop hyperspace technology. Extermination of our planet was the consequence. The subject did not survive interrogation."
He did what exactly that was so all and terrible? He defected to a shithole country and lived there for 30+ years. You seriously think that punishing him will do jackshit? People who defect to countries like North Korea aren't going to care what the rules are, they are already screwed up.
Of course he screwed up. People don't defect to North Korea for the scenic beauty. But the simple fact is that defection and treason should not go unpunished just because he managed to evade the law for a few decades.
He committed treason by helping a known enemy, maybe not such a great blow, but by any sane standard he's a traitor.
North Korea is the most closed country in the world. We know more about Osama's whereabouts then we know about North Korea.
Now answer this. How is it in the US's best interest to charge a 68 year old man for defecting to a shithole country.I should think his self impossed punishment (living in North Korea) is more then the US could reasonably punish him for.
Hmmm, how about the interest in seeing a defector that aided the enemy during a major world conflict is brought to just, how ever long delayed. For most of us, that's reason enough. Should a murderer walk free just because he managed to hide out till he's 68?
Maybe if he can provide worthwhile information he should get some leniency. But the fact is that defection and treason should not go unpunished.
Punishing this guy is like executing someone for attempted suicide. Completely idiotic.
"If the facts are on your side, pound on the facts. If the law is on your side, pound on the law. If neither is on your side, pound on the table."
"The captain claimed our people violated a 4,000 year old treaty forbidding us to develop hyperspace technology. Extermination of our planet was the consequence. The subject did not survive interrogation."
Alyeska wrote:A crime is a crime. All punishable by death.
Same line of reasoning.
May or may not be the same line of reasoning, but it is definately putting words in my mouth.
I've yet to see anyone actualy prove this guy deserves death. They keep saying "treason". What the hell did he do that merits death? Defecting to a shithole country shouldn't merit death. It should merit mockery.
I made it nice and bold for you. The man was in the service of the armed forces of the United States of America and then knowingly provided aid and comfort to an active and combative enemy.
