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Soga family arrives in Tokyo amid uncertainty

Repatriated abductee Hitomi Soga and her family arrived July 18 in Tokyo in a move expected to lead to their permanent residence in Japan, although uncertainty remains over the fate of her American husband accused by the United States of deserting from the army.

After arriving at Haneda Airport from Indonesia on a government-chartered airliner, Charles Jenkins, 64, who allegedly crossed the border between North and South Korea in 1965 while serving near the demilitarized zone, was hospitalized for treatment of stomach problems.

Soga, 45, and the couple's two North Korean-born daughters, Mika, 21, and Belinda, 18, are to stay in a room in the hospital for some time.

When they arrived at Haneda, the daughters no longer wore the North Korean badges they had donned while in Jakarta; they instead wore blue ribbons, a symbol of the Japanese movement to seek the eventual return of all Japanese abducted by North Korea.

According to government officials, Jenkins has not recuperated from a stomach operation in North Korea and may have a serious illness requiring further surgery.

As the United States eventually is expected to demand Jenkins' extradition under the bilateral Status of Forces Agreement, Tokyo plans to continue negotiations with Washington on a settlement that would enable Jenkins to remain in Japan.

But U.S. Ambassador Howard Baker said July 17, "There are no plans for U.S. officials to see Jenkins in the immediate future" as Washington is "sympathetic" to his health condition. (Kyodo)

Shukan ST: July 30, 2004

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World News Soga family arrives in Tokyo amid uncertainty Repatriated abductee Hitomi Soga and her family arrived July 18 in Tokyo in a move expected to lead to their permanent residence in Japan, although uncertainty remains over the fate of her American husband accused by the United States of deserting from the army. After arriving at Haneda Airport from Indonesia on a government-chartered airliner, Charles Jenkins, 64, who allegedly crossed the border between North and South Korea in 1965 while serving near the demilitarized zone, was hospitalized for treatment of stomach problems. Soga, 45, and the couple's two North Korean-born daughters, Mika, 21, and Belinda, 18, are to stay in a room in the hospital for some time. When they arrived at Haneda, the daughters no longer wore the North Korean badges they had donned while in Jakarta; they instead wore blue ribbons, a symbol of the Japanese movement to seek the eventual return of all Japanese abducted by North Korea. According to government officials, Jenkins has not recuperated from a stomach operation in North Korea and may have a serious illness requiring further surgery. As the United States eventually is expected to demand Jenkins' extradition under the bilateral Status of Forces Agreement, Tokyo plans to continue negotiations with Washington on a settlement that would enable Jenkins to remain in Japan. But U.S. Ambassador Howard Baker said July 17, "There are no plans for U.S. officials to see Jenkins in the immediate future" as Washington is "sympathetic" to his health condition. (Kyodo) Shukan ST: July 30, 2004 (C) All rights reserved