Christmas note binds Japanese abductee and American defector
Posted: Thursday, December 26, 2002
TOKYO (AP) -- The family of an American who deserted to North Korea more than 30 years ago has sent a Christmas greeting to his Japanese wife, saying they want to meet her.
Hitomi Soga, who was kidnapped by North Korea in 1978 and returned to Japan in October, received the Christmas Eve message from an American relative she has never met -- an invitation to visit her American mother-in-law for the first time.
But the Yuletide message indicated that 90-year-old Pattie Casper doesn't know that her son, Charles Robert Jenkins, ever got married, and warned that the news could be too shocking.
"We want her to be mentally prepared for your arrival and learning about Robert's health and the fact that he indeed found love and happiness," Jenkins' nephew James Hyman wrote. "We want to make sure she is not hurt again due to her health and age."
Little was heard of Jenkins until October, when North Korea admitted that it had kidnapped Soga and 12 other Japanese citizens, taken them back to the communist nation and forced them to train spies.
North Korea said eight of the Japanese have since died. The five survivors were allowed to returned to Japan in October for what was supposed to be a two-week visit, but they said Thursday they would not return to North Korea.
Jenkins, a former U.S. Army sergeant from Rich Square, N.C., deserted his post and fled to North Korea in 1965. Soga was kidnapped to North Korea in 1978, allegedly to train communist spies.
The two married shortly thereafter and have two daughters. Soga wants Jenkins to join her in Japan, but Tokyo and Washington haven't agreed how to handle his case. He faces arrest and extradition to the United States if he joins her.
In the meantime, Soga has said she wants to visit Casper in North Carolina. Hyman, of Dallas, N.C., sent Soga a letter saying he couldn't wait to meet her.
But he also suggested going slow.
"My grandmother is not well and we are waiting for something positive before we tell her all we know," Hyman wrote. He said he hasn't seen his uncle since he was four.
"From the news reports we have read, you are a very kind and brave woman and my uncle is lucky to have such a wife."
Hyman's letter was sent to the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan's leading daily newspaper, which delivered it to Soga on Christmas Eve. A copy of the letter was provided to The Associated Press.
Hitomi Soga, who was kidnapped by North Korea in 1978 and returned to Japan in October, received the Christmas Eve message from an American relative she has never met -- an invitation to visit her American mother-in-law for the first time.
But the Yuletide message indicated that 90-year-old Pattie Casper doesn't know that her son, Charles Robert Jenkins, ever got married, and warned that the news could be too shocking.
"We want her to be mentally prepared for your arrival and learning about Robert's health and the fact that he indeed found love and happiness," Jenkins' nephew James Hyman wrote. "We want to make sure she is not hurt again due to her health and age."
Little was heard of Jenkins until October, when North Korea admitted that it had kidnapped Soga and 12 other Japanese citizens, taken them back to the communist nation and forced them to train spies.
North Korea said eight of the Japanese have since died. The five survivors were allowed to returned to Japan in October for what was supposed to be a two-week visit, but they said Thursday they would not return to North Korea.
Jenkins, a former U.S. Army sergeant from Rich Square, N.C., deserted his post and fled to North Korea in 1965. Soga was kidnapped to North Korea in 1978, allegedly to train communist spies.
The two married shortly thereafter and have two daughters. Soga wants Jenkins to join her in Japan, but Tokyo and Washington haven't agreed how to handle his case. He faces arrest and extradition to the United States if he joins her.
In the meantime, Soga has said she wants to visit Casper in North Carolina. Hyman, of Dallas, N.C., sent Soga a letter saying he couldn't wait to meet her.
But he also suggested going slow.
"My grandmother is not well and we are waiting for something positive before we tell her all we know," Hyman wrote. He said he hasn't seen his uncle since he was four.
"From the news reports we have read, you are a very kind and brave woman and my uncle is lucky to have such a wife."
Hyman's letter was sent to the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan's leading daily newspaper, which delivered it to Soga on Christmas Eve. A copy of the letter was provided to The Associated Press.
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 0 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
