U.S. soldier in North Korea far from first American to flee to reclusive state
Former U.S. Army Sgt. Charles Robert Jenkins, who deserted to North Korea in 1965 and his Japanese wife, Hitomi Soga, who was abducted by North Korean agents in 1978, smile as they receive flower bouquets upon arrival at a town hall in Soga's hometown of Sado, Niigata Prefecture, in December 2004. | REUTERS
By Jadenne Radoc Cabahug, contributing writer
An American service member was believed to be in North Korean custody on Wednesday after willingly crossing into the nuclear-armed country, despite a “do not travel” advisory by the U.S. State Department due to the risk of arrest and long-term detention.
But the service member, Travis King, was far from the first U.S. national to venture into or be detained by the reclusive country.
Numerous U.S. citizens — including soldiers, tourists, journalists and scholars — have been detained or crossed into North Korea since the Cold War.
But the service member, Travis King, was far from the first U.S. national to venture into or be detained by the reclusive country.
Numerous U.S. citizens — including soldiers, tourists, journalists and scholars — have been detained or crossed into North Korea since the Cold War.
Charles Jenkins, 1965
Charles Jenkins, then 25, was one of the few U.S. service members that fled to North Korea during the Cold War. In 1965, he deserted his army post in South Korea and fled across the Demilitarized Zone.
During his time in the communist state, Jenkins starred in several propaganda films and worked as an English teacher and translator, marrying Hitomi Soga, a 21-year-old Japanese nursing student who was abducted by a North Korean agent, in 1980. Soga was allowed to return to Japan in 2002, and Jenkins joined her two years later amid improving ties between Tokyo and Pyongyang.
Jenkins surrendered to U.S. military authorities to face charges for abandoning his unit and defecting to North Korea, for which he plead guilty, serving time at the U.S. naval base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, before ultimately acquiring permanent residency in Japan and settling on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture with his wife and daughters.
During his time in the communist state, Jenkins starred in several propaganda films and worked as an English teacher and translator, marrying Hitomi Soga, a 21-year-old Japanese nursing student who was abducted by a North Korean agent, in 1980. Soga was allowed to return to Japan in 2002, and Jenkins joined her two years later amid improving ties between Tokyo and Pyongyang.
Jenkins surrendered to U.S. military authorities to face charges for abandoning his unit and defecting to North Korea, for which he plead guilty, serving time at the U.S. naval base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, before ultimately acquiring permanent residency in Japan and settling on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture with his wife and daughters.
Euna Lee and Laura Ling, 2009
In March 2009, journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling, 37 and 33 at the time, respectively, were captured by North Korean soldiers while filming a documentary about defectors along the China-North Korea border. They were charged with illegal entry for allegedly crossing into North Korea, and after a monthslong interrogation were sentenced to 12 years of hard labor in a North Korean prison camp.
With the North Koreans specifically demanding that former U.S. President Bill Clinton visit the country to secure their freedom — the only way they would be released, according to the pair — the ex-president traveled to Pyongyang to meet then-leader Kim Jong Il. In August 2009, Lee and Ling were freed after spending 140 days in captivity.
With the North Koreans specifically demanding that former U.S. President Bill Clinton visit the country to secure their freedom — the only way they would be released, according to the pair — the ex-president traveled to Pyongyang to meet then-leader Kim Jong Il. In August 2009, Lee and Ling were freed after spending 140 days in captivity.
Kenneth Bar, 2012
Kenneth Bae, then 44, a missionary and tour group leader, was detained in North Korea in November 2012. He spent roughly two years in detention — the longest-ever period of detention for an American prisoner in the country since the Korean War.
Bae — who suffered from chronic health issues — was sentenced to 15 years in prison after being accused of smuggling inflammatory literature and attempting to establish a base for anti-government activities at a border city hotel.
He was freed in November 2014 alongside another U.S. national, Matthew Miller, after U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper made a secret visit to Pyongyang to secure their release.
Bae — who suffered from chronic health issues — was sentenced to 15 years in prison after being accused of smuggling inflammatory literature and attempting to establish a base for anti-government activities at a border city hotel.
He was freed in November 2014 alongside another U.S. national, Matthew Miller, after U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper made a secret visit to Pyongyang to secure their release.
Matthew Miller, 2014
In September 2014, North Korea sentenced then-24-year-old Matthew Miller to six years of hard labor after he was charged with illegal entry into the country to commit espionage.
North Korean authorities claimed Miller had torn up his tourist visa at Pyongyang Airport upon arrival and had sought to experience prison life in order to secretly investigate the country’s human rights situation.
Miller — who told specialist media outlet NK News that he had “just wanted to speak to an ordinary North Korean person about normal things" — was freed in November 2014 with Bae.
North Korean authorities claimed Miller had torn up his tourist visa at Pyongyang Airport upon arrival and had sought to experience prison life in order to secretly investigate the country’s human rights situation.
Miller — who told specialist media outlet NK News that he had “just wanted to speak to an ordinary North Korean person about normal things" — was freed in November 2014 with Bae.
Otto Warmbier, 2016
Otto Warmbier, 22 at the time, was seized from a tour group while visiting North Korea in January 2016 and was later sentenced to 15 years of hard labor over charges of attempting to steal a propaganda poster.
The University of Virginia student’s ultimate fate, which came amid growing fears of nuclear war between North Korea and the U.S., caused a stir. After 17 months of captivity, his release was secured and he was flown back to the U.S. — but in a comatose state. Warmbier, who was reportedly blind and deaf, with “totally deformed” arms and legs, his bottom teeth rearranged and a large scar on his foot — died in the U.S. several days after returning.
No clear picture of his cause of death has emerged. North Korea has denied accusations of torture from Wambier’s family, although a U.S. federal court later found the country liable for his torture and death.
The University of Virginia student’s ultimate fate, which came amid growing fears of nuclear war between North Korea and the U.S., caused a stir. After 17 months of captivity, his release was secured and he was flown back to the U.S. — but in a comatose state. Warmbier, who was reportedly blind and deaf, with “totally deformed” arms and legs, his bottom teeth rearranged and a large scar on his foot — died in the U.S. several days after returning.
No clear picture of his cause of death has emerged. North Korea has denied accusations of torture from Wambier’s family, although a U.S. federal court later found the country liable for his torture and death.
Bruce Byron Lowrance, 2018
Before Travis’ apparent detainment on Tuesday, Bruce Byron Lowrance, then 60, was the last U.S. national to be held by North Korean authorities after entering the country illegally from China in October 2018.
He said he believed his trip to North Korea would help resolve tensions between Washington and Pyongyang, after the death of Warmbier.
In a relatively swift resolution to the incident, he was deported only about a month later, after telling his captors, according to North Korean state-run media, that he had been under the “manipulation of the CIA" — a claim widely believed to have been coerced.
The quick resolution, coming months after a landmark summit between then-U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, may have been thanks to the climate of improving ties.
He said he believed his trip to North Korea would help resolve tensions between Washington and Pyongyang, after the death of Warmbier.
In a relatively swift resolution to the incident, he was deported only about a month later, after telling his captors, according to North Korean state-run media, that he had been under the “manipulation of the CIA" — a claim widely believed to have been coerced.
The quick resolution, coming months after a landmark summit between then-U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, may have been thanks to the climate of improving ties.