Charles Robert Jenkins

About the Author

Charles Robert Jenkins, a former U.S. Army sergeant who defected to North Korea in 1965, spent nearly four decades in one of the world's most isolated nations before his dramatic return to the United States in 2004. His life story, marked by survival, regret, and eventual redemption, offers a rare insider's perspective on the secretive regime. In his memoir 'To Tell the Truth = Koku haku [Japanese Edition],' Jenkins candidly recounts his experiences, from his impulsive desertion to the hardships of life under constant surveillance, forced labor, and propaganda. Now living quietly in Japan with his family, he advocates for peace and understanding, using his extraordinary journey to bridge cultural divides and caution against the perils of ideological extremes.