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I’m sure many of us have been on the DMZ tour while we were stationed in South Korea.
It’s a pretty fun and informative tour, although to be honest, it’s a little ridiculous, too.
The South Koreans and North Koreans squared up against one another doing their martial arts poses. Then, all of the people on the tour lined up on the steps overlooking the Panmunjom JSA blue buildings, while the North Korean soldiers look at us through binoculars. It’s surreal to think about all the skirmishes that happened on the DMZ over the years, such as the axe incident, but again, it was also comically theatrical as well. I had mixed feelings about it, but overall was glad I went.
Anyway, it amazed me how open the border area at JSA actually was. Anyone on the tour could’ve briskly walked into North Korea before the Security Battalion could’ve reacted, at least it seemed like it to me. They were overseeing everything, but from where they were standing off to the side, just seemed like someone could’ve went into North Korea if they were determined to do so.
So to me, it’s somewhat surprising that it took this long for some idiot to walk into North Korea just for the thrill of it, which is what I am assuming happened, although it’s not completely clear yet. Of course, now that it’s happened, they will have to completely revamp the tours to ensure it never happens again.
But this seems like yet another incident that shows the stupidity of our fellow citizens. Not sure why a soldier would need to be stopped from going into North Korea, but that’s where we are as a country now. Completely filled with idiots.
The North Koreans could’ve easily handed this guy back over in the span of a couple minutes and nobody would’ve ever known, but of course they wouldn’t do that. They want to milk this for publicity as long as they can.
It’s the first we heard about it, wouldn’t doubt it’s happened before but was never made known to the public, I wonder if he was distracted by his phone and earbuds.
Latest seems to indicate this was not an accident. It may have been intentional because the soldier was to be discharged for disciplinary reasons and returned to the USA.
Latest seems to indicate this was not an accident. It may have been intentional because the soldier was to be discharged for disciplinary reasons and returned to the USA.
Ok, that makes this whole thing quite different if that is true. I wonder what the North Koreans will do?
But this reminds me of Private Dresnok back in the early 60’s. He was also facing court martial and defected to the North. Dresnok lived a full life, had wives and kids, and the North Koreans gave him money each month.
I feel like this isn’t going to work out as well for this kid as it did Dresnok.
Ok, that makes this whole thing quite different if that is true. I wonder what the North Koreans will do?
But this reminds me of Private Dresnok back in the early 60’s. He was also facing court martial and defected to the North. Dresnok lived a full life, had wives and kids, and the North Koreans gave him money each month.
I feel like this isn’t going to work out as well for this kid as it did Dresnok.
There are numerous U tube videos of Private Dresnok's 60 minutes TV appearance in 2008. It was a very interesting episode. From what I read, there are about 6 US soldiers who defected to NK over the past 70 years, so less than one per decade on average. None are still alive.
The outcome of encounters between US soldiers or citizens do not end very well. I have actually never went to Freedom bridge yet. I have seen across the border from the island off Incheon. I hope they are better to him than they did Otto Frederick Warmbier. My first tour there in 1976 just after the two officers were axed to death in the DMZ while on a mission to clear a large tree.
He was a Private trying to escape U.S. military punitive action for misconduct. He somehow managed to slip into a last minute tour group instead of boarding a plane to his home station. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-p...tm_term=071923
He'll be tortured, interrogated, and used as propaganda for the rest of his life.
Welp, I hope he knows it's not going to be worth it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by WK91
But this reminds me of Private Dresnok back in the early 60’s. He was also facing court martial and defected to the North. Dresnok lived a full life, had wives and kids, and the North Koreans gave him money each month.
I feel like this isn’t going to work out as well for this kid as it did Dresnok.
I wouldn't say being stuck living in Korea was a "full life" or "worked out well" even if he was allowed to have a wife, kids, and money.
No freedom of movement, travel, speech, religion, etc. No choice in what to eat, watch, do, access, etc. did he even have a say on who his wife was?
Let me guess, you think Edward Snowden is having a great time in Russia too? The only North Koreans with a full life working out well for them, are the wealthy elites who can travel in and out as they please (diplomats, politicians, trusted family members, high ranking government workers etc.)
Update, he was in Korean jail for assaulting 2 Koreans. He was being sent to his home unit to be discharged (likely a court martial and military prison time before the discharge, since the military can punish you after the foreign country does, it's not considered double jeopardy) And the military left him in the airport, by himself, after he got past customs.
Welp, Netlifx is definitely going to make a movie out of this one.
I spent 1 year at Osan, Koreans are one of the nicest people on the planet, and they NEVER mess with anyone. Korea is amazingly safe. You really have to be a bad person to assault 2 of them.
He was a Private trying to escape U.S. military punitive action for misconduct. He somehow managed to slip into a last minute tour group instead of boarding a plane to his home station. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-p...tm_term=071923
He'll be tortured, interrogated, and used as propaganda for the rest of his life.
Welp, I hope he knows it's not going to be worth it.
I wouldn't say being stuck living in Korea was a "full life" or "worked out well" even if he was allowed to have a wife, kids, and money.
No freedom of movement, travel, speech, religion, etc. No choice in what to eat, watch, do, access, etc. did he even have a say on who his wife was?
Let me guess, you think Edward Snowden is having a great time in Russia too? The only North Koreans with a full life working out well for them, are the wealthy elites who can travel in and out as they please (diplomats, politicians, trusted family members, high ranking government workers etc.)
Dresnok was very happy in North Korea. He was a movie star who played American villains in movies, someone who was recognized by most North Koreans. He was always given a full ration of food while other North Koreans starved. He also stated, “No amount of money could entice him to move back to the West. Initially, he did want to go back to the US, but he eventually grew to love the place.
As far as Snowden, I don’t know enough about his situation to make a call one way or the other, but he sure seems like he is well taken care of by the Russians.
I guess it’s possible this kid might be fine in North Korea, just seems like we’ve entered a new era in the world where the North Koreans might be more interested in jailing him then giving him handouts. I could be wrong on that, though.
Update, he was in Korean jail for assaulting 2 Koreans. He was being sent to his home unit to be discharged (likely a court martial and military prison time before the discharge, since the military can punish you after the foreign country does, it's not considered double jeopardy) And the military left him in the airport, by himself, after he got past customs.
Welp, Netlifx is definitely going to make a movie out of this one.
I spent 1 year at Osan, Koreans are one of the nicest people on the planet, and they NEVER mess with anyone. Korea is amazingly safe. You really have to be a bad person to assault 2 of them.
It sure seems like he had a “soju incident”. Got drunk and got into trouble. Way back in the day, they would’ve handled this, doled out a harsh punishment, and he would’ve finished out his tour in Korea.
Nowadays, they just put you on a plane and separate you out of the military back in CONUS.
The Koreans at the airport probably didn’t know the entire story, and after the military escorts left, he probably went up to airline staff and said he had changed his mind and would stay in South Korea a little while longer. This should’ve been a red flag, but I can see someone at the airline thinking, who cares if this guy wants to leave on another day?
As far as joining a tour in progress, that would’ve been very easy to do, because they stop at many different sites, not just the Panmunjom JSA. I wouldn’t have even questioned it, and the bus driver probably wouldn’t have either.
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