An extraordinary documentary about Joseph Dresnok, the last US GI to defect to North Korea during the Cold War, will be screened at Cambridge University this week.
“Crossing The Line” describes how Dresnok, a poor orphan from Virginia, was sent with his unit to guard the peace in South Korea in 1962, but instead defected to the Communist North.
It will be shown at Trinity College on Wednesday and the free event will be open to all. The film will be presented by co-producer Nick Bonner, who will also be taking questions immediately after the screening.
To reach North Korea, Dresnok walked across the demilitarised zone, which is the most heavily fortified area on earth, packed with 2.5million landmines. Once on the other side, he became a North Korean national hero, publishing propaganda pamphlets that vilified US servicemen and extolled the virtues of the Cold War enemy. He also worked for the Korean people's army as an English teacher, learning the language and the system.
Dresnok later found fame as an actor in North Korean propaganda films, in which he tended to be typecast as an evil American. Some 44 years on, he still lives in the capital Pyongyang, the heart of one of the most anti-American societies in the world. He has now been there for twice as long as he lived in the US.
“Crossing The Line” was made by two prize-winning British documentary filmmakers, Dan Gorden and Nick Bonner and was screened by the BBC last year. In making the film, the pair had astonishing access to Dresnok, his daily life in North Korea and the families of three other American GIs who also defected. They were even able to speak to the North Korean soldier who captured Dresnok in 1962.
The screening has been organised by the University's East Asia Institute, part of the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, which plans to offer teaching in Modern Korean Studies from 2008.
Source: By University Of Cambridge
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Comments
#1 Way watch, Crossing the Line
One thing is right, Joe Dresnok is not stupid, but, he is one, a fugitive, a coward, and a traitor to his own country. That’s if he still accepts the fact, that he is still an American. When first reading on the article on Joe Dresnok, I was very inserted and curious, on how an America would stay this long in the communist country of North Korea. But as I continued to read on the article. The more and more I became disgusted with his beliefs, ideals, and the deserting attitude of Mr. Dresnok. Running away is not the answer, Standing up and facing your problems is more honorable and than teaching English to the enemy, nor staring in films betraying Americans as he did. To my opinion, Joe Dresnok felled on the attempt of being a man. And with that type of attitude he was never close to being a Soldier. The comments he made were more than upsetting to me. So with that, I think I can speak for a great deal of America’s that might share my opinion. There is no reason for him to come back.
P.S. Mr. Dresnok you have nothing to trade. You already lose what you had.
#2 Coward Dishonesty
Agreed this man Dresnok has already lost everything he had. It could be that he is also forced to say this or face torture. We do not know. I feel like this man is a joke. A physchopath thirsty for power and fame with his gangster buddies.