Joe Dresnok: An American In North Korea

Bob Simon Reports On The Last U.S. Soldier Still Living In North Korea

(CBS)  This segment was originally broadcast on Jan. 28, 2007. It was updated on July 15, 2007.

Joe Dresnok could be the ultimate runaway. Growing up an orphan in Virginia, he kept running away from abusive foster homes. Then, as a soldier serving on the DMZ between North and South Korea, Dresnok did the unthinkable: in 1962, he ran through a minefield and defected into North Korea, where his unthinkable act led to an unimaginable life.

As Bob Simon reports, Dresnok has had for 44 years a mysterious isolated existence in that mysterious isolated country. No one outside North Korea has heard from Dresnok – until now.

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Dresnok told his story to two British filmmakers, Dan Gordon and Nick Bonner, who have made a documentary called, "Crossing The Line." They had already made two documentaries in North Korea—one on that country’s soccer team; and another on star gymnasts training for North Korea's annual spectacle called the Mass Games.

Gordon and Bonner earned the government's trust, so much so that after six years of trying they finally met Joe Dresnok.

"This is a man who disappeared off the face of the known world in 1962. And I went into this room, very sort of dark brick room. This sort of tall man in a black uniform came in. And he sat down, said, 'Hello Boy. I gather you wanna, gather you wanna talk about making a film about me.' And it would have been less surprising to have met Elvis Presley," Bonner recalls. "And yet here was this man in front of me, sat there, Joe Dresnok, who no one has seen since 1962."

Back in 1962, JFK was president and Dresnok was depressed and desperate. His wife had just divorced him, and then after leaving his base without permission for a night of womanizing, he was about to be court-martialed.

"I was fed up with my childhood, my marriage my military life, everything . I was finished. There’s only one place to go," Dresnok told the filmmakers. "On August 15th, at noon in broad daylight when everybody was eating lunch, I hit the road. Yes I was afraid. Am I gonna live or die? And when I stepped into the minefield and I seen it with my own eyes, I started sweating. I crossed over, looking for my new life."

North Korean soldiers surrounded him, as portrayed in the documentary, and some wanted to kill him. Instead, Dresnok was taken by train to the capital, Pyongyang, for interrogation. He was used to running away but he had never run to a place like this before.

Much of North Korea was in ruins a decade after the war. Kim Il Sung, known as "The Great Leader," was Asia's version of Joseph Stalin. One morning, Dresnok woke up to discover that North Korea already had an American defector.

"I opened my eyes. I didn’t believe myself. I shut them again. I must be dreaming. I opened them again and looked and, 'Who in the hell are you?' He says, 'I'm Abshier.' 'Abshier? I don’t know no Abshier,'" Dresnok remembers.

Larry Abshier was another American soldier who had defected three months before Dresnok. Two more GIs would follow over the next two years, Jerry Parish and then Sgt. Charles Jenkins.

They were a propaganda bonanza for the north, which put them on magazine covers, looking pleased and prosperous in paradise. They broadcast their happiness in the north through loudspeakers to American troops at the border.

All were high school dropouts, who had thought more about what they were running from, than where they were going. Misfits in the Army, they were outcasts in North Korea.

"Different customs. A different ideology," Dresnok explains. "The uneasiness of the way people look at me when I walk down the street. 'Oh, there goes that American bastard.' I didn't want to stay, I didn’t think I could adapt."

Four years after Dresnok defected, he and the other Americans had had enough. They sought asylum in the Soviet embassy but the Soviets handed them right back to the North Koreans.

"I think all four of them thought they’d be shot. And what’s remarkable to me is that they weren’t. The authorities painstakingly decided that we will convert them almost. That, you know they will come to our system," Dan Gordon says.

The filmmaker says that conversion process worked. Running away was no longer an option. So, since he couldn’t get out, Dresnok vowed to fit in.

"They might be a different race. They might be a different color. But God damn it I'm gonna sit down and I'm gonna learn their way of life. I did everything I could. Learning the language. Learning the customs. Learning their greetings. Their life. Oh, I gotta think like this, I gotta act like this. I’ve studied their revolutionary history, their lofty virtues about the Great Leader," Dresnok recalled. "Little by little, I came to understand the Korean people.

And "the Korean people" finally accepted the Americans when they started starring in propaganda films that were big hits in the north.

[seungyong]

I lives in south korea. This story is very interasting.

[jackie_liu14]

an other kidnaper called south korea

[kimfahringer]

I thought useless TV was on weeknights at 7:00 PM EST, but your show on Joe Dresnok was an incredible waste of time. Shame on CBS for giving this unfortunate human being airtime. With Americans dying every day for their country, it is amazing that 60 Minutes would find the story Dresnok of any value. He doesn't want to come back, and we don't want him back!

[hankjohnda]

This "story" reaks of an anti-war sentiment about Iraq, not N. Korea. This man's comments and sentiments are irrelevant and invalid; who cares what he thinks and how does he have the nerve to call himself an American? Yoyr reporters should be more honest with Americans and themselves. You can do better!

[hankjohnda]

This "story" reaks of an anti-war sentiment about Iraq, not N. Korea. This man's comments and sentiments are irrelevant and invalid; who cares what he thinks and how does he have the nerve to call himself an American? Your reporters should be more honest with Americans and themselves. You can do better!

[h2odale]

60 Minutes should be ashamed to give this traitor any kind of press at all. We have thousands of men and women giving their lives for our country everyday. Do stories on these heros and their families. I was completely disgusted by your coverage and am very disappointed in your show.

[kathy9209]

Let him stay where he is! For someone who has no use for our country, he seemed to enjoy the fame he got using our media to publish his traitorous behavior. And you should be ashamed for giving him a stage. We wouldn't trade anything for him either!

[kathy9209]

Let him stay where he is! For someone who has no use for our country, he seemed to enjoy the fame he got using our media to publish his traitorous behavior. And you should be ashamed for giving him a stage. We wouldn't trade anything for him either!

[kathy9209]

Let him stay where he is! For someone who has no use for our country, he seemed to enjoy the fame he got using our media to publish his traitorous behavior. And you should be ashamed for giving him a stage. We wouldn't trade anything for him either!

[dprkstudies]

The story was neither anti-war for Iraq, North Korea, or anywhere else. It%u2019s interesting to see what he has to say, and telling that he was fairly careful in word selection a few times, proof he still needs to watch exactly what he says. He was also drinking Jack Daniels whiskey %u2013 a bottle of that likely costs more in North Korea than the average person will make in several months. His %u201Cprivileged%u201D apartment looks more like something illegal immigrants in the U.S. might live it. All that is telling, and worth learning from.

[bhamer2]

You should be ashamed of yourselves, I have watched you show for over 40 years. I will never see it again, How could you talk about a traiter, we have enough people dying for this county let alone you showin somethin about that piece of ***. That piece of *** should hang.

[pmsnapp97]

While watching the news segment on Joe Dresnok, the last U. S. Defector in North Korea, I was extremely disturbed at his language, which in this day and time seems to be second nature to far too many people. However, what was most disturbing was not just his use of the Lord's name in vain, it was the fact that your producer, therefore your company, did not care enough about my and others right not the hear that phrase to even bleep it. Then when I logged on and scanned the story online, I was amazed to discover that you blocked out the last three letters in the word ***. How can you justify your decision to allow this sort of language. I am a born again Christian, an African-American born in the United States and after my forefathers fought for my right to do so many things, now, the one thing that this country was founded upon, the freedom of worship, is being trampled upon by our extreme leniency of the freedom of speech. I am seriously considering leading a boycott against CBS, its affiliates and all its subsidiaries. Please reconsider your reasons for editing or not editing a news story.

[mzungutembo]

I lived in S. Korea for two years and found this story very interesting. Too many comments above are taking the stance of 'anti-American' or 'traitor'. To me it was a story about a guy who has done something very interesting, whether you agree with it or not. Living in S. Korea many Americans find ourselves intrigued by the cult of personality 'just over the hills' that is North Korea. Read "Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader" for more insight to this 'strange' place. Great story.

[olifmatthews]

Thanks for letting us know what is happening in North Korea, both with the deserters and letting us see some of the things that we have not been able to see. I served in Korea in 1952 and was amazed at the comparison of the two Korea's now. I revisited South Korea last year on the Korea Revisit program sponsored by the South Korean Veterans Services and could not believe the progress that has been made. Too bad we could not have followed Gen McArthur's advice and got the two re- unified.

[cbsjerry]

There seems to be no greed, no ambition to aquire great wealth, make more money and live in a bigger better house than your neighbors. They don't have hi-tech gadgets that most people must have but don't even understand how to use what they have. They don't have muti-millionairs that are given more millions on severance all because they are incompetant. They don't have muti-million dollar ball players. The list goes on and on.

[nbbrunner]

What is the point of this story? He is a traitor and deserter and does not deserve any recognition! Shame on you for promoting this man.

[jvtut]

I found the story interesting. Mr. Dresnok appears to be a pompous ***, not to mention the already known fact that he is a traitor. Glad that he "decided" to stay there, as if he had any other option. I also found it disturbing to see that he is "fed" Jack Daniels at will; can't imagine what that must cost there. One would think he would have refused the drink and requested that the money be spent on rice for hungry North Koreans since he acknowledged that he knew about millions dying there of hunger.

[nbbrunner]

What was the point of this story? Joe Dresnok is a traitor and deserter! Shame on you for being his champion. He does not deserve any attention from anyone is the USA.

[rufusmin]

After seeing the segment on the technology and geek revolution, I think maybe this Joe Dresnok guy has the better part! The revelation that bicycles aren't even much in evidence so the government can keep better track of its citizens--well look what all the mobility in this country leads to: nationwide serial killers, rampant drug dealing and children running away and living on the streets and resorting to God knows what to survive! And the breakdown of families that leads to all this horror. But getting back to Joe Dresnok, one should remember that at the time he ran away to N.Korea, he was a poor soul. Unless one walked in his shoes, one ought not to be too critical of what he did. Of course, we can sit here in our ivory towers in the good ol' US of A and pat ourselves on the back that WE would never do such a thing, and OUR government doesn't use defectors from other countries to ours as a propaganda tool. Hey, didn't you hear Bush's State of the Union speech last week? Talk about propaganda machine! Sure, the N.Korean government gave this poor slob from the U.S. red carpet treatment: apartment, food, clothing and Jack Daniels. Joe probably felt like he'd died and went to heaven.

[nyckate]

Wow - this is one mean-spirited angry little pissant - one thing is for *** sure - the US is much better off without the likes Joe Dresnok.

That's not to say that the story isn't interesting - jsut that this guy never had anything to contribute to anywhere, anytime, anyplace -- he's more than happy to sit there and be taken care even knowing that others were starving so he could fill his fat belly.

[mwitmer]

I served in the U.S. Army on the Korean DMZ in 1973. There were hundreds of "Joe Dresnoks" there--who stayed on their own side of the line--at any given time. We were just a bunch of young, lonely kids deployed to a distant, forgotten, seemingly God-forsaken--and dangerous--place for 13 months. I'm just suprised more didn't "go north."

[rufusmin]

I note that so many posters here think this guy "used" the media to spew his whatever. I don't see where he, himself, initiated publiczing his story. It was those two British guys who went after this story. Note that after 44 years Joe's story is only now coming out. Blame the "free, Western civilization" media for this. I expect the only reason the N. Korean government let these guys do the documentary was just their way of giving out propaganda about how wonderful their society is (at least, they think it is). Of course, I wouldn't trade my life here in the good ol' US of A for what goes on in N. Korea. Even with all this madness of technology and geekdom. But at least I can choose how much of it I'll buy into (like using it to express my considered opinion in a forum such as this). But as I said previously, this guy named Joe had such a dismal life as an American, it's no wonder he fell for the N. Korean exploitation.

[rpaulstu]

What a sad, sad story. A not-too-bright guy makes a stupid decision and pays for it--as he should--for the rest of his life.

Hardly someone to be angry at, and not worthy of our sympathy. Gone and--rightly--forgotten.

[fleshmonger6]

A wonderful example of the truth that a human being will fall for anything, no matter how obvious it is that reality doesn't support it. The sad fact is that we don't have to go half way across the world to see this principal at work, just read some of the post...

[emtak1]

What an odd story. Kinda like a bear or cougar running into the zoo to live out his days in a cage voluntarily. And then calling it paradise.

Perhaps North Korea was able to lend Mr. Dresnok some badly needed stability in his life. And maybe his son will bear sweeter fruit than his father as a diplomat.

But it appears that. Mr. Dresnock,like North Korea is falling apart. Nothing last forever. Americans and Koreans have our ambitions. But God, too, has his own designs that dont necessarily have anything to do with either.

[thom651]

Why is minutes wasting their time with this traitor and deserter. This is a insult to every military person who served honorably. I served my country for over 20 years in the United States Army and 21 years with the federal goverment as a meteorologist and hydrologist. Generally your news program is very good, hope you don't continue with programs along these line. As you just lost a viewer.

[nitro66ds]

I find it interesting that after over 40 years in N Korea he still calls himself an American.

[lieberman18]

a jerk, a total loser, and bottom line a pathetic traitor and psycopath.

do you enjoy killing and starving babies like your hero, Kim, Dresnok?

as for rufusmin, go and join him. Bash Bush, but do it from one of Kim's comfortable apartments. Just remember 20-30 miles away babies are being starved and slaughtered. But hey, you can bash Bush all you want - and have all the Jack Daniels you can drink too.

All traitors and Neo-Fascist apologists - remember it was North Korea's propaganda arm ANSWER that presented the anti-"war" rally this past weekend. You can always move there if you think Bush is bring America fascism. You won't be missed.

[lieberman18]

Wow, NYCKate, there's still SOME hope for you.

Now, while you rightfully bash Dresnok, think about those who are behind your anti-Iraq war rallies - Traitors no better than Dresnok, and also in the pay of Kim Il Jong.

Don't believe me - go to the ANSWER and UFPJ websites. Of course you won't get the truth from those Red Hitlerites, but if you are open-minded enough to do just a wee bit of research, you'll know where these Red Nazis come from.

They want you to have Sharia AND Stalinism. Enjoy.

[lieberman18]

drink yourself to death, you d&mn *** and traitor. Hope the eyes of the dead babies murdered by Kim haunt your rotting soul.

[tunman-2009]

A traitor pure and simple! Take heart in knowing you are reviled and have another drink while your "fellow" countrymen starve to death.

[susubaba]

hey,everybody deserves a chance to talk.Lets listen and talk.I would like to talk every day through my website www.edaily.org .

[glimmerman7]

This is an interesting story. If you look beyond your childish anger conerning this man you will see a product of the American society. A culture and society that does nothing to help the abused, poor, and forgotten souls. Mr. Dresnok is a product of our forgotten. We live in the richest and greatest nation on earth yet we are more concerned with our "portfolios" than helping our fellow citizens in despair. I am also a veteran, a former state police officer, teacher, author who has served this country for more than 25 years. I always look at the cause of people's desparate actions and hopefully preventing behavior as Mr. Desnok's. He is not totally to blame. We need to look at our society as well.

God Bless

Glimmerman

[labettis]

I think his defecting to N Korea was probably a good thing for people here in the US. I would hate to think of what this man would be like if he had returned to the states. In and out of prison, destroying other people's lives with his hatred and anger.

[tunman-2009]

I will say somebody has a sense of humor about this. Glimmerman, that is the funniest one I have read so far. You have taken the humor of blame placing to new heights! Keep up the good work and I hope to read more of your gems. This guy is still a write off and thank God he is North Korea's problem!

[garner991]

According to Karl Marx statement-(One man%u2019s success is according to one man%u2019s ability).

Apparently this man (Joe Dresnok) was just an un-educated white trash redneck not so bright man that was abandon at birth (sorry to be so honest). When you think about it the American Free Market Capitalist Society is only for the most talent people. Only the cream rises to the top in America.

What do you think Mr. Dresnok would be doing in America now? He in all likely would have worked at low-wage jobs all his life. Or maybe he would have been put in prison. If not these (2) he would have stayed on the welfare system and food stamps and we would be taking care of him now.

It%u2019s a good thing that the North Korean government is taking care of him instead of the US government like they are with so many other people.

[portagejlh]

Who cares? He certainly is a user from the word go. Don't waste your airtime on such garbage. I feel sorry for his children to have such a waste of a human for a father!

[oleander8]

What do you bashers know about this man except what you have just read? It was an interesting story - end of discussion.

[glimmerman7]

I am glad "tunman" found my response interesting. I just wanted people to look at Mr. Dresnok in a different perspective. I have previously lived in the area where Mr. Dresnok is now living for several years. I do not recall speaking with any of the people that have made these comments about Mr. Dresnok while I lived there. I do know this from experience, once you have lived outside the US for over a year you see how other people perceive us as a nation and society. Remember once you utter words about someone you cannot take it back. Just as you fire a "bullet" from a gun you cannot call it back. In the immortal words of a man who inspired me to write, Mr. Rod Serling,

"There are weapons that are simply thoughts, attitudes, prejudices -- to be found in the minds of men. For the record, prejudices can kill and suspicion can destroy, and a thoughtless, frightened search for a scapegoat has a fallout all its own -- for the children and the children yet unborn. And the pity of it is that these things cannot be confined to the Twilight Zone."

God Bless

Glimmerman

[glimmerman7]

One last comment then I am done! No one even dares to mention the 35-50 American POWs from the Vietnam War still being held in North Korea. Mr. Dresnok is NOT the last American in DPRK. Our government claims they all decided to stay and are defectors. Whey are they in collective farms south of Kanggye and east of Nampo under armed guards?? They are there, I know!!

God Bless

Glimmerman

[tunman-2009]

Glimmerman,

If you know there are 35-50 MIA|POW from the Vietnam era, why cant you give an exact number?
You are backing a loser by supporting this Dresnok. Remember, the DPRK started the war, and are busy starving its own people to support this propaganda relic!

[agnim]

"..... the DPRK started the war

Posted by tunman at 04:00 PM : Jan 29, 2007"

I thought it was the FOREIGN INVADERS AND COLONIZERS OF KOREAN SPACE who started the war, and still refused to leave Korean space to this day? LOL

[glimmerman7]

Tunman;

When I lived near there since 2002, I spoke with no less than 7 people who came across the Tumen River from DPRK. Some told me 35, 48, 55, 50 42. Depending which area they escaped from (Nampo, Kanggye) Some Chinese were on a tour bus and observed 5 working in a field and speaking with their North Korean guards. Have you ever lived there? Have you ever spoken to escapees or government people from the DPRK? You can travel to Tumen, Yanji, Tonghua and speak with the people there and see for yourself if there is any doubt?? You can purchase a ticket from the westcoast (LAX, SFO)to Shenyang, China and make the appropriate connections to those cities if you wish. However,just like me you will take a risk in doing that.

God Bless

Glimmerman

[kat26ky]

This man is a coward and an ignorant fool. Dresnok has been taken care of by North Korea because of propaganda and is being used as propaganda again.

[agnim]

Good for old Joe Dresnok.

After rough beginnings, he finally got a life and is being respected and treated better than many American vets.

Joe is so proud that he is able to send his child to college, something he probably couldn't imagine for himself growing up.

[glimmerman7]

I am no way supporting Mr. Dresnok! I am merely trying to educate you that there is a reason for everything. It can be a story we like or do not like personally. Just be objective. I take no sides in this matter. I am only here to enlighten or educate. Nothing more and nothing less. I deal only in FACTS! You can choose to listen or ignore. That is entirely up to you.

God Bless

Glimmerman

[agnim]

Posted by kat26ky at 04:52 PM : Jan 29, 2007

And you think that Americans are fed to overfill with propaganda also? LOL

[rufusmin]

The last I heard this was still a free country - or so they tell us. Maybe you object to my "Bush-bashing" because you are really a control freak or even a potential dictator a la that crazy guy in North Korea. Anyway, I think it is a GOOD thing that this story came to light so we can see just how crafty "our enemies" are. After all, there is proof positive now that the media/art/whatever you want to call it DOES influence human behavior (this is something I've been touting for YEARS and no one believes me). Look how the little kids in Iraq are "playing" Saddam Hussein's execution. Once upon a time (in this country, anyway) kids "played" Superman or the Marvels (Capt., Capt. Jr. and Mary) or other media good guys. So don't let anyone tell you people can't be influenced by what they see and hear whether or not they are lies. Look at the poor slob, Jack-Daniels-drinking, smoking-like-a-fish Joe what's-his-name. I think it's VERY important to know what the bad guys are up to. Probably most of you are too young to know how the Communist Russians lionized Paul Robeson who had been treated so badly by his compatriots because he was black. He was influenced by communism to the point where he believed it was the answer. And on and on. By the way, I don't drink Jack Daniels or any other alcoholic beverages and I quit smoking when NY upped the taxes. Had no trouble giving it up after 40+ years of a heavy duty habit. And just to set the record straight, I voted for Bush both times.

[rufusmin]

My last comments were for lieberman18 when he criticized me for having an opinion. May I remind him he's only entitled to his because this is a free country. At least in this forum. But then again, we are spied upon, too, by our own. I rather imagine, lieberman18,that if you were up to no good (as determined by our government) that government would come down on your head good and plenty. So be careful. Be very, very careful. Hahahahahahaha (maniacal laughter).

[glimmerman7]

No, you don't have to be up to no good to be spied upon. I worked for this government for more than 20 years in various "trusted" capacities plus I am a former state police investigator. Yet my government spies on me all of the time (emails, phone, etc.). When two FBI agents appeared at my home to question me about my email traffic to my son here in the US, I informed them it was against the law to do so and they agreed, apologized to me and left. The apology does not make a difference they have comitted a criminal act (US Constitution, Bill of Rights, Article IV). When I worked for the government and the state police I took an oath to honor our US Constitution and to protect our country against all enemies, foreign and domestic. It is truly a shame our "fearless" leaders cannot and will not do the same. But I am a forgiving individual and I do forgive them for the crimes they have comitted against me but they should still be held accountable for any violations of our laws or we no longer have a democracy, just a dictatorship. It is my hope we don't become the same as our "enemies"?

God Bless

Glimmerman