Jenkins to travel to Japan on Sunday: Govt source

Jenkins to travel to Japan on Sunday: Govt source

Agencies, Tokyo/Jakarta

A former U.S. soldier accused of deserting to North Korea is to
travel to Japan on Sunday for medical care, a Japanese government
source said, after signs Washington would not seek custody while
he was in hospital.

U.S. Ambassador Howard Baker said on Thursday that Washington
was sympathetic to the health problems of ex-U.S. army sergeant
Charles Robert Jenkins, and left open the possibility it might
not seek immediate custody if he went to Japan for medical care.

Jenkins, who the United States says deserted in 1965 and later
joined the North's propaganda machine, was reunited in Jakarta
last week with his Japanese wife Hitomi Soga, whom he met in
North Korea after Pyongyang agents kidnapped her in 1978.

Soga came back to Japan with four other abductees in 2002, but
had to leave behind Jenkins and their two North Korean-born
daughters. Soga's plight has won much public sympathy in Japan.
Soga expressed anxiety about Jenkins's health.

Soga said in a written statement issued on Thursday in Jakarta
that she and her daughters were "very much worried" about
Jenkins' health following medical tests there.

"I wish for him to have treatment in hospital in Japan," she
said.

Japan's national broadcaster NHK reported on Thursday that
Jenkins suffers from peritonitis, an inflammation of the walls of
the abdomen that can become serious if not properly treated.

North Korean officials on Thursday apparently were trying to
block Jenkins from leaving Jakarta, saying they wouldn't allow
him to go to Japan unless they can meet with him, according to
Kyodo News agency, which quoted an unidentified Japanese
official.

While commenting on the news about the departure plan of the
Jenkins family, Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman
Marty A. Natalegawa said Japan, Indonesia and North Korea should
jointly discuss the matter before the family's departure to
Tokyo.

"The arrival of Jenkins and his family in Jakarta for the
reunion with Madame Soga was made possible only with the
agreement or understanding of the relevant parties, in
particular, the agreement of the Indonesian government, which
facilitated the reunion. Thus, his departure from Jakarta should
be conducted in the same manner," Marty told The Jakarta Post on
Thursday.

The couple and their daughters have been staying at a luxury
Jakarta hotel since they were reunited last week. They played
cards and a musical game but Jenkins was too ill to join in, Soga
said.

Jenkins has expressed concern he would be handed over to U.S.
authorities for court martial if he went to Japan.

A stalemate over his future could irritate U.S-Japan ties.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Tokyo was working to enable
Jenkins to receive treatment in Japan soon but the timing had not
been decided.

"It is said to be better if he receives treatment as soon as
possible and we are coordinating in that direction but the date
has not been decided," Koizumi told reporters.