The Reluctant Communist: My Desertion Court Martial And Forty Year Imprisonment In North Korea

** Picture of Charles Robert Jenkins, a former American soldier who defected to North Korea] [Alt: Charles Robert Jenkins, an American soldier who defected to North Korea stands in front of a North Korean flag]**

My name is Charles Robert Jenkins. I was an American soldier who defected to North Korea in 1965. I was captured almost immediately and spent the next forty years as a prisoner of war. During that time, I was subjected to torture, brainwashing, and hard labor. I was finally released in 2004 and returned to the United States.

My story is a harrowing one, but it is also a story of hope and redemption. I have dedicated my life to helping others understand the dangers of defection and the importance of reconciliation.

The Reluctant Communist: My Desertion, Court-Martial, and Forty-Year Imprisonment in North Korea

by Charles Robert Jenkins

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1751 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	238 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

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My Early Life

I was born in Rich Square, North Carolina, in 1940. My father was a farmer and my mother was a homemaker. I had a happy childhood and was raised in a loving Christian home.

I joined the Army in 1961, shortly after graduating from high school. I was assigned to the 7th Infantry Division in South Korea. I enjoyed my time in the Army and quickly rose through the ranks to become a sergeant.

My Defection to North Korea

On January 4, 1965, while serving as a sentry at the DMZ, I left my post and walked across the border into North Korea. Several conflicting emotions led me to make that fateful decision that would change my life forever.

I was motivated by a combination of youthful idealism, a desire for adventure, and a growing disillusionment with the war. I thought that North Korea would be a workers’ paradise where I could make a difference in the world.

My Life in North Korea

I was quickly disillusioned. I was captured almost immediately and taken to a prison camp. I was interrogated and tortured for weeks. The North Koreans tried to break me down and force me to renounce my American citizenship.

Eventually, I gave in and signed a confession admitting that I was a spy. I was sentenced to death, but my sentence was commuted to life in prison.

I spent the next forty years in a North Korean labor camp. I worked long hours in the mines and fields. I was constantly hungry and tired. I was denied basic human rights and was subjected to regular brainwashing sessions.

During my time in prison, I came to regret my decision to defect. I missed my wife and children and longed to return to my home country. I prayed every day that I would one day be free.

My Release and Return to the United States

In 2004, after forty years in prison, I was finally released. I was flown to Japan and then to the United States. I was greeted by my wife and children and was welcomed home as a hero.

I have been back in the United States for over fifteen years now. I am grateful for my freedom and I am committed to making the most of my second chance. I have written a book about my experiences in North Korea and I speak regularly to groups about the dangers of defection.

The Importance of Reconciliation

I believe that reconciliation is essential for healing and moving forward. I have forgiven the North Koreans for what they did to me. I hold no ill will towards them. I believe that we must all learn to forgive and move on from the past.

I am committed to working towards reconciliation between the United States and North Korea. I believe that dialogue and engagement are the best way to achieve peace and reunification.

My story is a reminder of the dangers of defection and the importance of reconciliation. I hope that my story will help others to understand the consequences of their actions and to make wise choices.

I am grateful for my freedom and I am committed to making the most of my second chance. I will continue to work towards reconciliation between the United States and North Korea and I will never give up hope for a better future.

The Reluctant Communist: My Desertion, Court-Martial, and Forty-Year Imprisonment in North Korea

by Charles Robert Jenkins

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1751 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	238 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE