London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

DPRK: Japan and the abduction issue

It’s been a while since I last received a copy of the DPRK e-bulletin. Here’s the latest one. The related BBC story is here.

DPRK FM Spokesman Exposes Japan’s Moves to Internationalize “Abduction Issue”

DPRK flagPyongyang, June 13 (KCNA) — A spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry issued a statement on June 13 as regards the fact that the Japanese authorities are driving the DPRK-Japan relations to the worst phase in history by persisting in their moves to internationalize the “abduction issue” already resolved between the DPRK and Japan. This year alone, in April and May, they made a big fuss, deciding to beg countries having diplomatic ties with the DPRK for official cooperation in the settlement of the issue and sending Megumi Yokota’s family to the United States and south Korea for “soliciting” help. As if this is not enough, they are trying to take the issue to the UN Human Rights Council and G-8 summit, says the spokesman, and goes on:

In trying to “internationalize” the “abduction issue,” which had been solved, by deliberately bringing it into bold relief, the Japanese authorities seek to isolate the DPRK by taking advantage of the U.S. hostile policy toward it and craftily evade its obligation to settle their past crimes by distorting the keynote of the DPRK-Japan relations as if it is the “abduction issue.”

The relations between the DPRK and Japan are, in essence, those between a victim and an assailant. Therefore, the latter ought to make due apology and compensation understandable to the victim if the bilateral relations are to be settled.

Japan has imposed upon the Korean people immeasurable human, material and mental pain in the past.

Nevertheless, Japan has not yet made any honest apology to the Korean people with a humble bow. On the contrary it has neither admitted its criminal acts nor thought of compensating for them.

As already clarified by the DPRK more than once, the “abduction issue” had been completely settled thanks to its sincere efforts.

The DPRK sent “abductees” and their children to Japan and provided Japan with nearly 50 hours to hear testimonies from those who experienced or witnessed some “abductees” died to help it confirm their death.

And the DPRK has done everything possible including the handing to Japan of even the things left behind by the deceased and their remains.

They are working hard to abuse the above-said issue for the realization of their political strategy from A to Z.

By internationalizing the issue they seek to isolate the DPRK and get their “leadership ability” estimated at home and instill a new “view on the state” based on ultra-nationalism into Japanese and thus justify their policy of militarization.

The Japanese authorities would be well advised to ponder over the serious impact the current situation will have on the overall relations between the DPRK and Japan.

No matter how hard they may peddle the “abduction issue” in a bid to hide the crimes committed against all the Koreans, our people will blame Japan for all its past crimes and force it to pay for them.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.