The act of treason is a highly controversial topic. ‘Double-agents’ are often portrayed in television/film as villainous characters. Though the media sensationalizes things to fit a dramatic narrative, the general feeling around the character is rather similar to an actual treasonous person against their native land.
Former U.S. Army soldier Charles Robert Jenkins had been tasked with guarding the North Korea-South Korea border. At the time (1965), tensions ran high between the United States, North Korea, and the then-Soviet Union. Simultaneously, the United States had just entered the Vietnam War in what turned out to be a brutal campaign.
Not wanting to be shipped out to Vietnam, Jenkins made the decision to defect from the United States Army — instead entering North Korea of his own volition. Jenkins had hoped to be a part of a prisoner exchange, with the goal of ultimately returning home.
Instead, Jenkins overplayed his hand tremendously. He’d go on to spend the next 39 years under North Korean control. Though he was technically a prisoner of war, Jenkins was forced to participate in some rather unconventional situations whilst using his English speaking background. In one night, Jenkins went from an honorable serviceman to a traitor.
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Charles Robert Jenkins grew up in Rich Square, North Carolina. Coming from an impoverished community, Jenkins dropped out of school at the age of 15 in order to join the United States Army. Upon turning 18 years old, Jenkins was shipped out throughout the world. After a three-year stint in West Germany, Jenkins made his way to South Korea. His responsibilities primarily revolved around patrolling the demilitarized zone at night.
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In 1965, the United States had begun heavy involvement within Vietnam. The brutality of the war was widespread. Archaic and unconventional warfare methods made trudging throughout Vietnamese jungles incredibly harrowing. Jenkins decided that he wanted no part in potentially being stationed in Vietnam.
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One night, Jenkins got wildly drunk. He ended up consuming at least 10 beers. With the thought of being moved to Vietnam squarely in the back of his mind, Jenkins did something completely contrary to the core principles of the United States Military. Jenkins walked across the border into present-day North Korea, and thus defected from the army.
Jenkins remembered the event vividly:
“Well, I told [the other troops] I heard something and I would be back in a few minutes. I would go and check it out. And I left and I started walking. Started walking north. I apologize for leaving them. They had faith that I would take them through. But I betrayed them.”
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Relations between the United States and the then-Soviet Union were very frosty. Jenkins had essentially hoped to be a prisoner of war. In theory, he’d be exchanged for fellow prisoners of war on the ‘other side.’ Jenkins then could be transported back home to the United States. However, this wishful scenario did not unfold the way Jenkins would’ve liked.
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At 24 years of age, Jenkins surrendered to a North Korean solider. He walked across the border whilst holding a rifle with a t-shirt tied around it. Little did Jenkins know that his life would forever be changed by a rash decision. Instead of becoming a part of a POW swap, Jenkins instead spent the next 39 years of his life with the hermit nation. As he reflected back years later, the decision to abandon the army was a fateful one:
“I made a lot of mistakes in my life, maybe, but that was the worst mistake anybody ever make. That’s for sure.”
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Jenkins immediately joined three other American troops — Jerry Parrish, James Dresnok, Larry Abshier — who had also deserted their duties as soldiers. The quartet shared a modest home on the outskirts of Pyongyang. Jenkins didn’t know what to expect, though he quickly learned about the propaganda-driven agenda of those in charge.
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For roughly eight hours a day, Jenkins and the rest of the Americans held captive were forced to study Kim Il Sung’s teachings. Though native English speakers, all four memorized the text in Korean. This primarily was done to further embed the ideology of this dictatorial country. Jenkins specifically endured much in the way of physical hardship. Temperatures reached below freezing during the winter time. With minimal heat and a rudimentary plumbing system, things became rather trying.
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Jenkins had a tattoo on his forearm bearing two crossed rifles and the words “U.S. Army”. Wanting no preexisting ties to their supposed enemy, the North Korean troops in charge of Jenkins carried out an absolutely unthinkable act. Using Scissors — and no numbing agent — the North Korean troops allegedly cut the tattoo off of Jenkins’ arm. Suffice it to say, but this ordeal had to have been utterly terrifying.
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The North Koreans didn’t hesitate to utilize Jenkins’ skills as an English speaker. He was tasked with teaching English to soon-to-be spies and military personnel. Jenkins was also used as a figurehead in multiple propaganda campaigns. This included featuring him on fliers and posters. Jenkins even assumed the role as evil American Dr. Kelton in various propaganda films.
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After 15 years of living in North Korea, his luck suddenly changed. In 1980, a 21-year-old Japanese woman named Hitomi Soga was brought to his front door. She had been abducted by the North Koreans as a means to teach other spies the Japanese language. Upon meeting, the two formed an instant connection.
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Jenkins and Soga became a married couple within mere days of meeting each other. The bond of both being prisoners of war led to them having two children — daughters named Mika and Brinda. For 22 years, the family lived in a tiny home within Pyongyang. Much of their food source came from raising chickens and growing vegetables. In 2002, the family received a shocking surprise.
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Soga was one of 13 Japanese citizens who had been kidnapped by the North Korean government. As a means to mend the relationship between both countries, Kim Jong Il allowed the 13 individuals to return back home to Japan. While Soga was allowed to leave, Jenkins and the couple’s daughters were forced to stay in North Korea.
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Two years later in 2004, Jenkins and his daughters were allowed to travel to Indonesia. This was made possible with the support of the Japanese government. Japan had hoped to get Jenkins a pardon for his prior decision to leave the United States military — though it was denied. A few months later, Jenkins was taken to court at a U.S. Army base in Japan for his involvement in going AWOL.
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Jenkins was dishonorably discharged for deserting the army. Though many thought his jail sentence would last years, Jenkins received only 25 days within a military brig. The United States authorities interviewed Jenkins on his time in North Korea for two-straight months. The periods would last eight hours per day.
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Jenkins believed that his jail sentence was cut short based upon the information he provided the government on North Korea. He also admits that there are still American citizens within the country’s borders. Many of them are from the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and are currently subjugated to farming:
“They wanted to know where military installations were. I knew it all. I was told that they had an agent in North Korea for over 20 years who didn’t give them one tenth of what I gave them. Close to my house was a mountain and Russia put missiles in there. Everybody knew that. Nobody goes up there or talks about it, but they’re all aimed at Japan and South Korea. When Russia turned capitalist, all these scientists ran away.”
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With his wife and children in tow, Jenkins relocated to Soga’s hometown of Sado Island in Japan. He lived off of a stipend from the Japanese government, and wrote a book entitled The Reluctant Communist: My Desertion, Court-Martial, and Forty-Year Imprisonment in North Korea. He was able to sell more than 300,000 copies in Japan.
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On December 12, 2017, Jenkins passed away from heart failure at the age of 77. He continued to live with his wife on Sado Island up until his death.
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