CAMP ZAMA, Sept 11: Nearly 40 years after allegedly deserting the US army by crossing into North Korea, Sergeant Charles Robert Jenkins turned himself in to face American military justice here on Saturday.

Sgt Jenkins, 64, was expected to bargain for a dishonourable discharge in a step toward his possible settlement in Japan with his wife, an abducted Japanese national whom he met in North Korea, and their two daughters.

Wearing a dark grey suit, Jenkins approached the military police building at Camp Zama, the headquarters of the US army in Japan, stood at attention and gave a long salute to a senior officer.

"Sir, I'm Sergeant Jenkins, and I'm reporting," Jenkins said, according to army spokesman Maj John Amberg. Provost-Marshal Lieut-Col Paul Nigara replied: "You are now under the control of the US Army."

Later, Sgt Jenkins was seen in army-supplied footage seated in a new uniform with three gold shoulder bars signifying his rank as sergeant, receiving advance pay in US dollars.-AFP