James Dresnok: The US Soldier Who Defected to North Korea 

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imagine having such a bad life you literally defected to North Korea

Dude got tired of all the rules...so he defects to a country which arguably has even more rules. Logic 101

A British soldier did the same in the late 80's. The North Koreans gave him back after 3 days saying that he was mentally deficient. The British army disagreed and locked him up for years for his misdeed.

As someone struggling with severe depression and anxiety, this have made me to rethink life and be grateful for having a shelter, a stable family, and eating 3 meals a day.

It's amazing what a "nothing to lose" mentality can make you do.

This man had a cartoonishly bad life.

A guy went from a lonely and desperate man, abused by a system of deep discrimination and classism, and became a celebrity, with immense influence, station, power, and a loving family. No wonder he left.

Because James life was so horrible as a child I can very easily imagine him, crossing the border into North Korea, and thinking that this was some kind of vacation considering that in the United States, he suffered, almost constant rejection, and abandonment.

Dude got high and just walked across the DMZ.

Imagine coming back from NK 50 years later and being demoted. He probably even forgot he was in the army lmao

This all stemmed from this man’s pain. This really shows the importance of showing everyone love, they might desperately need it. James Dresnok, along with all of those mentioned who suffered in one way or another as well, Rest in peace ❤

Who's here after Travis King went over the DMZ to North Korea?

*North Koreans flees to South Korea* James Dresnok: *Reverse uno card*

Defected to North Korea because "He was caught smoking the wild marijuana on the North Korean border" what a legend

Whos here after another US soldier just ran across the border in order to defect.

Dresnok is such a fascinating character. I saw a documentary about him from a few years before he died. The interviewer had to have a translator because Dresnok had basically forgotten how to speak English.

For 2 years in the late 90s, I was company clerk of the unit this guy had defected from. There is the face saving, official story, and the “real” story passed down from outgoing CO to incoming CO and 1st Sgt to 1st Sgt. respectively. Basically Dresnok was wasn’t attempting to defect, he was actually attempting to get himself shot or blown up by a land mine and was attempting suicide. The fact that this guy made it through the DMZ without getting himself killed by a mine is a damned miracle in itself actually. Basically what led up to this was the result of a mental breakdown after repeatedly butting heads with an abusive alcoholic platoon sgt, who was beating and extorting lower enlisted. After Dresnok stood up to the guy, the Platoon sgt told him in front of other lower enlisted that he would kill Dresnok, who told him that he wasn’t afraid of death and would soon prove so. The platoon Sgt received a dishonorable discharge and did 9 months in the brig almost immediately after the army conducted an investigation into Dresnoks defection, and uncovered the whole picture.

Honestly, he probably did have a better life than he would have had in America. He had everything provided for him, was part of he elite class, and literally became a celebrity. It's not hard to understand why he had no patriotism for the US considering his life was awful and he was constantly abused by those around him.

I honestly think it was just two people with very different viewpoints. I think James was one of many US residents that fall through the cracks. Every single country in the world has its plus and negatives. It's up to each citizen to decide if the American dream is there dream.

Thank you! I saw the documentary "Crossing the Line," narrated by Christian Slater, and your video truly does justice to the complexity and strangeness of this situation--the little we can know of it. To answer your question towards the end I don't think it was a case of "brainwashing," so much as it was really two different people with vastly different perspectives on the same situation (I think of Akira Kurosawa's film Rashomon). The one who stayed and was happy in the PRNK, l mean, to a certain extent (irony of ironies) he truly "achieved" his view of the "American dream" there--the North Koreans basically created a Truman Show and he was the star. I mean, in his sad struggle as a traumatized neglected young boy in the USA, all he really wanted was to be a paterfamilias, and get that love and affirmation he never found and was bitterly betrayed of in the US. He was so sad and embittered it hardly mattered to him if he lived or died, nor, for that matter, if he was just played by the North Korean government. They fed his dreams, they gave him his Blue Pills.

"Joined the Army and they had rules and regulations and people always yelling at him." Yup. About sums it up.

He loved it when they called him “big papa”.

What a sad story. Many of us who think we have problems need to count our blessings.

This entire story was equally both wholesome and disturbing at the same time

This is a sad sad story. His family failed him early on.

The only reason he received such a good life in NK is because he went along with want they wanted him to say and they only allowed him to see what they wanted him to. He was essentially living the trueman show life but he never caught on to the scam.

This was an eye opener for me! What incredible stories! Thank you for this obscure and hidden history a truly remarkable documentary.

Some soldier by the name of King just did the same thing, defect to North Korea to get out of an arrest warrant in the States. Dresnok must have been his role model.

Mans' life was worse than Dr. Doofenschmirtz

This guy was in so much pain to the point where he literally walked away from everything he knew

this is a fascinating story. one of the best i've seen on this channel so far.

What an interesting story. Thanks for sharing, love your channel!

An unintelligent young man, who had been treated like crap by nearly every person he knew. Was put in a position where he could do whatever he wanted and treat others like crap, if he wished. You figure it out.

What a childhood this man had. As a parent, I could never fathom abandoning my kid. That's a whole new level of evil

Me watching this after Travis King defected. Oh! he is not the first 😂

very interesting story... and enjoyed the production of it as well!

“He was so tired of obeying orders all the time” so he went to a country where everyone obeys orders all the time. Edit: lmao at all the people defending North Korea implying it’s better there than the US or that the US is the same as North Korea. Bruh, learn to appreciate what you have now. You’re too blind to see how bad North Korea actually is.

Imagine how his first wife must have felt upon hearing this information. “Wow. I was such a bad person my husband willingly defected to North Korea for a better life.”

Thanks that was really interesting.

I got a feeling there will be a new Video on this topic

Wow, how do you abandon your kid like that at a retirement home? His dad is a dirt bag.

I like how they used a current photo of Richmond, Va and just popped a greyscale filter on it.

Thanks for the Info.God bless!

Good video it is amazing how you get all the information

Next up: German solider who voluntarily worked in a gulag for his entire life.

3 minutes in and I can’t even imagine the pain of being rejected 4 times by adults and seeing your brother being accepted... :(

this about to blow up

It just happened again today

James was probably emotionally and psychologically vulnerable because of what he'd been through his whole life. He was desperate for a place to fit in and the North Koreans saw the more they put into him the more they got out. They decided to keep him happy to use him for their own purposes and it worked since he died loving the DRNK.

"born in Richmond, VA" Yeah I would defect to North Korea too

I like it more when infographics tells these type of stories. The graphics make it that much better.

Great video, nicely done.

His life in North Korea sounds like the Truman show

Keep in mind that even if he changed his mind the moment he got there, it was already too late. He would not be allowed to leave. He would survive by spending the rest of his life saying and doing what was required to make the country look good. We will never know what really happened.

This must be what Travis King is trying to do

This just became awful relevant.

Let's be serious His sons are living a high life in a crappy country being with the elites

Hey Simon, when you hit 1 Million, you should do a video about yourself.

Here we are, 2023, & once again another one crossed the line.

Dresnok took the only chance ever availed to him for happiness and stability. The USA sure as hell wasn't going to do a thing for him. I say good for him. May he rest in peace.

James Dresnok! What a good, kind, and loving man he was. I'm so glad that he *found* a wife.

This guy was married and divorced before the age of 20? That's rough

When a child is not meant to feel love or welcome by their own family, don't be surprised at what they do later in life.

Can't wait to see the next video after today's news

Dude... This poor poor man. I can't even imagine having a childhood that traumatic.

Honestly? I kinda get it. This man literally had nothing in his life. Nothing that made him happy, nothing to give it meaning, nothing to sustain himself, nothing to look forward to in the future. He quite literally had nothing to lose, so he took a chance. And it seems it worked out for him.

What a tragic story to be honest! This should be a movie! It's like trying to find the perfect life but each country keeps screwing you over.

Now we might have a part 2

*Wife dies* Guess I'll go out to that resturant i love so much.

"became a massage therapist in Bangkok" now thats a line I need on my resume.

Imagine being treated better by strangers in another country and given more respect than he ever was in the United States. This guy's life is the story of the death of the American dream. No wonder he liked it there so much

I think going to North Korea he found what he was looking for. A place he felt welcomed. Sounds like to me living there made him happy. Good for him.

Man, this guy had a messed up life. Can't even blame him, honestly. I don't think his life would have been any better had he stayed in America.

He didn't just walk over. He ran in broad daylight through a minefield.

Sometimes we believe what we want to believe because it's easier than facing the truth. Freedom means different things to different people. Dresnok's childhood gave him a skewed view of America and freedom. As far as he was concerned he had everything he wanted in North Korea and he was willing to say or do whatever he had to to keep it. Even if he was tortured and whatever, he still had more than he'd ever had before. That was his truth.

Well done. An amazing story that few North Americans know about.

When my mother was a young girl in rural South Korea, North Korean airplanes would drop fliers urging citizens to defect. They featured drawings of beautiful people, and rolling fields of grain.

If living in North Korea was good for him...what the hell was going on in Virgina in the 1960?!?!

Now he has a new friend

Not a traitor, but a lone man. Cheers guy who defected

He's never heard of Square Space or Raid Shadow Legends over in NK. There are *some* benefits

"Weren't allowed to marry North Korean women" Escapees: *Woah woah woah*

Wow what an amazing story. You’re correct I hadn’t a great childhood but I joined the military and went to college. And my wife and I have had a great life. But how many times does a guy have to get knocked down?

This in mid 2023 when another soldier defected to escape court martial really adds to it

1:00 - Chapter 1 - Early life 3:30 - Chapter 2 - Growing up 5:25 - Chapter 3 - Good morning DMZ 8:25 - Chapter 4 - Welcome to the DPRK 10:05 - Chapter 5 - In too deep 12:30 - Chapter 6 - Becoming a celebrity 16:00 - Chapter 7 - Later life & death

There is an old Roman saying: Better be first in the village instead of being second in the city

Feel so bad for this soldier, the world was against him his entire life. Hope he found some kind of happiness.

the grass might be greener, but the snakes are even bigger

I have a feeling his fellow soldiers were giving him hell.

For clarification, in the army you don't have very much control over where you go only during the first contract. When you reenlist you get choice of duty station

Bro great video

He was just living the North Korean dream yo...

"He went to the army to gain freedom" Nuff said.

Dresnok wasn't complex at all. He was simply a guy who spent his whole life running away from his problems, until he finally ran into a place where he couldn't run anymore. I'm sure he died happy, so good for him.

And here we are again, another American soldier goes across the border.

Can’t imagine being so unloved as a kid. Living in a car with your brother while mom is out hooking and drinking.

At least jenkins found real love as she stayed with him when they moved to japan

He was so fed up with following orders that he defected to North Korea. Brilliant 😂

We shouldn't criticize the fact that he went to North Korea, but rather criticize the fact that he was destined to be destroyed back home in the US with no hope to ever get better, and that he managed to get a very comfortable life in North Korea instead. The American dream is definitely not for everyone, particularly not for those who come from the very bottom.