Former U.S. Army Sgt Charles Jenkins is seen in this undated handout photo.TOKYO — The Japanese government is facing a dilemma over how it will reunite a former American soldier said to have defected to North Korea with his wife, Hitomi Soga, a Japanese national abducted by Pyongyang now back in Japan, government sources said Thursday.
The United States recently told Japan it would seek to court-martial former U.S. Army Sgt Charles Robert Jenkins, who is listed by the U.S. military as having deserted to North Korea in 1965 while stationed in the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, if he visits Japan.
The United States recently told Japan it would seek to court-martial former U.S. Army Sgt Charles Robert Jenkins, who is listed by the U.S. military as having deserted to North Korea in 1965 while stationed in the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, if he visits Japan.
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe will go next week to Soga's hometown of Mano on Sadogashima Island, Niigata Prefecture, to tell her about the exchanges between Japan and the U.S. and is expected to tell her Japan will make its utmost effort to enable a reunion, according to the sources.
Japan asked the U.S. last month to pardon Jenkins, 62, so he could settle in Japan with Soga, 43, and their two daughters, aged 17 and 19, who also remain in North Korea.
Japan asked the U.S. last month to pardon Jenkins, 62, so he could settle in Japan with Soga, 43, and their two daughters, aged 17 and 19, who also remain in North Korea.