Japanese government is suspected of making compromises in the demands to North Korea, reports Yomiuri.

Govt compromise on abductees? / Cabinet drops handover of N. Korean abductors from list of demands
The Yomiuri Shimbun

The new government led by Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has removed the handover of North Korean agents who abducted Japanese citizens from the six-point government policy on the abduction issue, government sources said Tuesday.

Hiroshi Nakai, chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, who is responsible for the abduction issue, said, "Our stance of demanding the handover of the abductors has not changed."

But a fear is spreading among family members of abductees who said that they did not understand the attitude of the Hatoyama administration toward the issue, because the action can be interpreted as a concession to North Korea in future negotiations.

At a meeting in October 2006, the then Liberal Democratic Party-led government's team on the abduction issue decided on a six-point action plan.

They also included implementation of sanctions such as ban on entry to Japanese ports of North Korean ship Man Gyong Bong-92 and collaboration over the issue with the United Nations and other concerned countries.

In June 2008, then Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura remarked that three demands contained in the six points were essential at the House of Representatives special committee on the abduction issue.

The three demands were the handover of persons who actually conducted the abductions; securing the safety of abductees and their return to Japan; and unveiling the truth about the abduction incidents.

The previous administration regarded the three demands as the bottom line for Japan, points on which there can be no compromise in negotiations with North Korea.

However, handover of the abductors was excluded from among the key points in a Cabinet decision document drawn up on Oct. 13, when the Hatoyama administration decided to set up a new team to deal with abduction issues.

At a session of the lower house special committee on abduction issues held Nov. 26, Keiji Furuya, an LDP lawmaker, pointed out that the handover demand had been dropped.

In reply, Nakai said: "It doesn't mean [the government] has retreated. First of all, we'll work hard to achieve the two main points [return of the abductees and revealing the truth]."

Furuya continued to criticize the move, saying, "You can't avoid criticism that you are acting weakly," but Nakai only repeated that the administration would do its best.

Concerning the Hatoyama administration's policy toward North Korea, DPJ Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa reportedly told the South Korean Democratic Party leader during his visit to Japan last month, "We have to decide how to improve relations between Japan and North Korea without being handcuffed by how to resolve the abduction problem."

Even in the government and among Diet members, some expressed concern that the administration may put higher priority on normalization of diplomatic ties with North Korea.

Teruaki Masumoto, secretary general of the Japanese Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea, said: "Even two months after the power shift, there have been no signs of a start in negotiations with North Korea. In the first place, it seems that the government's policy over the abduction issue has not been firm, and so we feel anxious."

(Dec. 16, 2009)

http://www.asahi.com/politics/update/1211/TKY200912110242.html
From Asahi Shimbun article

Abudction Minister against North Korean women’s soccer team entering Japan

Minister Nakai said he was against the North Korean women’s team to enter Japan to compete in the East Asian Women’s Soccer Tournament planned to be held next February in Japan.

Participation of the North Korean team was announced last September, but Minister Nakai was informed several days ago. The reason for banning the team from entering the country was because Japan is imposing sanctions against North Korea, explained the minister. He requested further discussion on this matter.

Members from the Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea (AFVKN: “The Families’ Association”), and the National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea (NARKN: “Rescue Abductees”) met with Japanese foreign minister, Mr. Katsuya Okada on December 9th at the foreign ministry.
(Details of the attendee are listed at the end of the text.)

Mr. Okada:
Two months have passed since I took office. I wanted to meet with you earlier, but we had to wait until today. I received a letter and a book from Yokota-san. More than thirty years have passed since the abduction. Abduction is a national priority and the prime minister shares the same strong will to resolve it. I am working with Minister Nakai to bring the victims back to Japan as early as possible. Let’s have a candid discussion today.

Summary of comments from our members:
- The will to resolve the abduction issue seems to have not changed with the new Democratic government, and we have high hopes. Please promote China and U.S. to send North Korea the message that the North must resolve this issue.
- We must rely on the Japanese government to resolve the issue, but there is strong public support that should be a force for the government’s efforts. We saw strong turnout at our recent meeting that proves strong public support. The change in government could trigger a change to bring the victims back.
- We are here with mixed feelings meeting you in this room (at the foreign ministry). We have met with many foreign ministers in the past in a similar situation. Kim Jong-Il seems to have health conditions and there is a sense of crisis in North Korea. The regime will do anything. They may even kill our family members and bring us there bones as their remains. We urge you to inform the North that Japan can identify when the remains of the individual died.
- We urge you to set a deadline on the ongoing sanction and set a date for progress on this issue. Unless that is met, please show them that Japan will impose additional sanctions
- Shukan Asahi (21.11.27) reported about Hatoyama cabinet office planning a sudden visit in December. Can you tell us anything about that?

Minister Okada:
I am aware of the article. It has no grounds. It’s a product of imagination.

Our members:
- North Korea has only provided false information regarding the death of our families. We urge that the government finds effective communication channels with Kim Jon-Il to demand the release of victims by naming them and have the Japanese government lead the negotiation. North Korea claimed they will re-start the investigation, however, there were no actions taken. They do not need an investigation. They already know everything about the victims. Japanese government should not be fooled by North Korea.
- We urge that you have a clear strategy once North Korea responds to calls for negotiation. We would like another meeting with Kim Hyon-Hee in Japan or in South Korea. We ask that Japanese government takes measures to protect the surviving victims in North Korea.

Minister Okada:
I met with Secretary Clinton in New York. She touched upon the abduction issue and realized that this was a result of your long efforts. I understood that the abduction issue will continue to be a priority under the new Obama administration. Fundamental policy seems to have been kept in the Obama administration. Normalization should be considered as we resolve the issues of abduction, nuclear and missile.
Minster Nakai nominated himself as the minister in charge of abduction. I intend to work closely with him and please understand that the entire foreign ministry is working together to resolve this issue. North Korea’s claims to re-start the investigation last August was a significant event. North Korea is wanting to negotiate with the new Hatoyama government.
Kim Jon-Il seems to have health conditions and time is not on their side either. That is why we should not be rushing. We will confront North Korea with a resolute attitude. Japan is in tandem with U.S. and South Korea in North Korean policy and this should be a threat to the North. I am expecting to hear more information from Mr. Bosworth when he visits Japan.
In regards to the Kim Hyon-Hee’s visit, I will consult with minister Nakai against other priorities.

Our members:
- We maintain our strong support for tougher sanctions. Do you think the sanction is working to put pressure on them? How about the Chinese support to the North?

Minister Okada:
I regret that the government has not yet passed the bill to inspect ship cargo following the U.N. resolution. I hope that the bill gets passed during the next diet sessions. There were comments from the North that they intend to come back to the six-party talks when Prime Minister Wen visited the North. There were some promises for aids. I intend to comment if those aids are beyond what has been agreed in the framework. There are different opinions about further sanctions against the North. If they go back to the August agreement and begin investigation, we must lift part of the sanction. Otherwise, they will use that as an excuse to cancel the investigation. Minister Nakai believes that there opportunities in people exchange and allowing chartered transportation.

Our members:
A journalist commented on TV that number two or three in the foreign ministry claimed that the victims were dead. That story needs to be confirmed.

Minister Okada:
I am not aware who in the ministry claimed that. I don’t think that is true. We are expecting movements from the North. Their willingness for Japan-North Korea negotiation should be getting stronger than it was in last August.

Our members:
They have already failed to keep their words. We should instead be toughening sanctions and lift them when they come back to the negotiation table.

Minister Okada
It is important to have them restart the investigation.

Our members:
- Japan must carefully study the content of their investigation. They may claim that the victims are dead.
- We urge that the government negotiate with the North with the basic assumption that the victims are still alive


Attendees:
From our organizations: Shigeo Iizuka, Shigeru and Sakie Yokota, Akihiro and Kayoko Arimoto, Shichiro Hamamoto, Koichiro Iizuka, Tsutomu Nishioka, and Ryutaro Hirata.
From the government: Minister Katsuya Okada, Tetsuro Fukuyama, Chinami Nishimura, Akitaka Saiki, Hideki Yamaguchi.

Reports tell us that JP government officially determined that Kim Jon Il were aware of the kidnapping, although he denied his involvement in his meeting with former PM Koizumi.
http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200911030097.html

Kim Jong Il oversaw abduction agency

THE ASAHI SHIMBUN

Japanese government officials have determined that North Korean leader Kim Jong Il oversaw the Pyongyang agency responsible for abducting Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s, despite Kim's claim he was not involved, sources said.

The officials believe Kim either ordered the abductions or at least was in a position to know about them, the sources said.

When Kim admitted to then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in September 2002 that North Korean agents had abducted Japanese nationals, he indicated he had not been connected to the operations.

He said they "were carried out by elements within a special agency that turned toward impulsive, and what they considered heroic, acts." The party had disciplined the agents responsible, Kim said.

This new revelation will make it more difficult for Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama to carry out his plan to normalize relations with North Korea. The outcome of that plan will hinge largely on his ability to resolve the abduction issue, and concurrently make a breakthrough on the issue of North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile development programs.

An overseas intelligence investigation division under the ruling Workers' Party of Korea carried out the abductions of Japanese nationals from the 1970s to the early 1980s.

The investigation by Japanese government officials has determined the division, now called Room 35, reported directly to Kim, who at that time was solidifying his position as eventual successor to his father, Kim Il Sung, who died in 1994.

The division comprised a director and three deputy directors as well as section chiefs, supervisors and agents.

It was made up of seven sections, some of which were assigned to work exclusively on individual countries, such as Japan, South Korea and China.

When they would receive instructions from Kim, the director, deputy directors and section chiefs met for ceremonies at the Workers' Party of Korea headquarters.

At the ceremonies, a document was read that usually began with wording such as "Dear General, Comrade Kim Jong Il made the following observations." The instructions that followed were issued in writing or verbally.

The section chiefs would then relay them to the supervisors and the supervisors to the agents. The party would discipline anyone who disobeyed these orders. Disciplinary measures included dismissing them from their posts and executing them.

Japanese police officials have already determined that Li Wan Gi, former director of the overseas intelligence investigation division, and Kan Hae Yong, a former deputy director of the same division, were involved in the planning and supervision of the abduction of Yasushi Chimura and his wife Fukie, as well as Kaoru Hasuike and his wife Yukiko. The two couples returned to Japan in 2002 along with Hitomi Soga.

Government sources said police officials at one time considered seeking arrest warrants against Li and Kan, but that plan was shelved by people close to then Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.

According to diplomatic sources, in February 2008, Japanese government officials questioned Choi Un Hee, a South Korean actress who was abducted to North Korea in 1978 and later escaped. Choi said that by the 1970s Kim had taken over management of the government from his father. She believed he gave the order to abduct Japanese nationals.(IHT/Asahi: November 3,2009)

Members from the Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea (AFVKN: “The Families’ Association”), and the National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea (NARKN: “Rescue Abductees”) met with Peter Hughes, the UK’s Ambassador to Pyongyang at the British embassy in Tokyo, on October 23, 2009.

Members from our organizations attending the meeting were Shigeo Iizuka, Shigeru and Sakie Yokota, Teruaki Masumoto, Tsutomu Nishioka, and Ryutaro Hirata.

Comments from Ambassador Hughes –
I became the ambassador to Pyongyang thirteen months ago. This is my first visit to Japan since arriving to Pyongyang. I have been exchanging information with the Japanese government on this trip. I have raised the issue of abduction to North Korean officials. I wanted to meet with the relatives of the abductees directly to know more about this issue so that I am able to have deeper talks with Pyongyang officials.

I feel the despair of the family members of the abductees deeply and wish that I know how I could contribute to the resolution of this issue. I am free to go in and out of Pyongyang, but restricted to where I go and with whom I meet. Once I am back in Pyongyang, I would like to demand North Korea to treat this issue seriously and work for an early resolution.

Explanations from members of our organization –
We informed the ambassador on the gravity of this issue and that the victims come from all over the world. The number of known victims and the motives of abduction were shared. Japanese abductees had trained North Korean spies that bombed the South Korean airliner to disguise as Japanese. This is an example of how the victims have been forced to contribute to Pyongyang terrorist activities. We also explained to the ambassador that Pyongyang has been providing false evidence to prove that our family members are dead. Those include false remains and death certificates. We also introduced our free North Korea radio programs where we send information of this side of the world to North Korea. We asked the ambassador for continued support including sharing of information and protection of the victims

Members from the Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea (AFVKN: “The Families’ Association”), and the National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea (NARKN: “Rescue Abductees”) joined 4 other NGOs to protest against a celebration for North Korean regime held in Tokyo, on Saturday, October 17th.

Here is a report regarding the event:
Demonstration Held Against Silent Chongryon
http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?cataId=nk03100&num=5546
More pictures from an individual at the protest:
http://hanausagi.iza.ne.jp/blog/entry/1275530/

Hiroshi Nakai, minister in charge of the abudction issue and also the chairman of the National Public Safety Commission in Japan sought cooperation at a Interpol gathering in Singapore.

Here are newswires pieces regarding his calls:

DJ Japan seeks global support on North Korea abductions (Dow Jones newswire)
http://english.capital.gr/News.asp?id=830327

Japan seeks global support on N. Korea abductions (Agence France-Presse)
http://news.sg.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3635249

Hatoyama: Fresh approach on Abduction Issue
Meeting with the Family Association and Rescue Abductees

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Hiroshi Nakai, National Public Safety Commission Chairman and Minister of State for the abduction issue met with members from the Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea (AFVKN: “The Families’ Association”), the National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea (NARKN: “Rescue Abductees”), and Investigation Commission on Missing Japanese Probably Related to North Korea (COMJAN) on Tuesday, September 29th.

(The list of attendees of the meetings will be at the bottom of this article)

PM Hatoyama: Different approach than the previous government – meeting with kin of abductees.

The meeting on Tueday began at the Cabinet Office where Mr. Hiroshi Nakai explained Mr. Hatoyama’s mentioning of the abduction issue in various occasions during his trip in New York. “Mr. Hatoyama spoke about the abduction issue in his address at the U.N. as well as in his meetings with President Obama, President Hu, President Medvedev, President Lee, and Prime Minister Rudd.” Mr. Nakai said that Mr. Hatoyama’s efforts in New York made it easier for him to begin his work. In regards to the organization of the Headquarters for the Abduction Issue, Mr. Nakai said “it is still yet to be determined.” Support for the relatives of the abductees will remain as it is, but Mr. Nakai is seeking the best way to “collect information.” The way information has been gathered “cannot remain the same and continue to waste more years.” He plans to change the organization to gather information.

Prime Minister Hatoyama met with abductees’ families and members of the supporting organization at the Prime Minister’s Office. To start off the meeting, Mr. Hatoyama said, "Needless to say, an issue of this kind can only be resolved through the government's proactive efforts.” “The issue cannot be resolved when Japan is depending on other nations. This new administration wants to demonstrate that it is going to tackle this issue proactively.” Mr. Hatoyama expressed his strong determination in his statement.

In response to the positive comments and encouragements from the family members, Mr. Hatoyama said that he means what he said. “We must demonstrate that this is a new administration. I have been explaining my policy of “fraternity” and by this, I mean that I want to lead a government that values human lives. I cannot let this issue continue as it is when I believe that human lives must be valued.”

In the meeting, Mr. Teruaki Masumoto, General Secretary of the Families’ Association, expressed his concern regarding the possible lifting of sanctions against North Korea. Mr. Masumoto spoke about the agreement made last June between MOFA and North Korea that Japan would lift sanctions on North Korean ships if North Korea began reinvestigation of abductees. The sanctions on North Korean ships entering Japanese ports was a result of the long-fought battle by the abductees’ families and supporting organizations and Mr. Masumoto explained that all the family members feel that it should not be lifted easily. “Until all the victims return to Japan, the sanction on Mangyongbong should not be lifted.” In response to Mr. Masumoto’s comments, Mr. Hatoyama said that lifting sanctions would only bring the same outcomes from the North Korean regime as we have seen for years. He said that the new administration must deal with North Korea with new ways and that Japan should not easily compromise to North Korea.

Mr. Nakai said that before coming to power, he has been criticizing the government of being soft on North Korea. “I now have that responsibility of criticizing the former administration.” Following Mr. Hatoyama’s strong will to resolve this issue, Mr. Nakai also expressed his determination as the minister responsible for the abduction issue. He also said he would like to visit South Korea before the Diet session convenes and has been contacting President Lee’s brother. “I will be making every effort to resolve this issue.

Below is the list of people who attended the meeting.
Families’ Association:
Shigeo Iizuka, Akihiro and Kayoko Arimoto, Shichiro Hamamoto, Teruaki Masumoto, Sakie Yokota, Kenichi and Tatsuko Ichikawa, Fumiyo Saito, Takeshi Matumoto, Akio Terakoshi, Mitsuo Uchida, Masaru Honma, Koichiro Iizuka, Fumiko Hirano, Toshiko Masumoto
Rescue Abductees:
Yoichi Shimada, Mr. Yamagishi
COMJAN:
Hiroshi Kawahito

At the Prime Minister’s office, our members met with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, together with Mr. Hirofumi Hirano, Chief Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Hiroshi Nakai, Minister of State for the Abduction Issue, Mr. Matsuno, Mr. Matsui and Mr. Takino, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretaries, Mr. Tetsuro Fukuyama, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kouhei Ohtsuka, Senior Vice Minister for Promotion of Local Sovereignty, and Mr. Kenji Tamura, Parliamentary Secretary of Cabinet Office. All of them attended the meeting with the “blue ribbon” pin. Mr. Koriki Jojima, chairman of the Lower House special committee on the abduction issue, and Mr. Yukihisa Fujita, chairman of the Upper House special committee on the abduction issue joined the meeting at the Cabinet Office.

Family members of the vicitims kidnapped by North Korea and members from the supporting organizations met with Prime Minister Hatoyama and Minister of State for the Abduction Issue Hiroshi Nakai on Tuesday, September 28th at the Prime Minister's Office.

Below is on the reports covering this meeting:

http://www.breitbart.com/print.php?id=D9B0V79O0&show_article=1
LEAD: Hatoyama vows efforts to get back abduction victims+

The Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea (AFVKN: “The Families’ Association”) and the National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea (NARKN: “Rescue Abductees”) surveyed candidates for the Japanese general election held last Sunday, August 30, on their stance on the abduction issue. The survey was sent to all 1374 candidates prior to the election.

77.4% of the 1374 candidates and 80.6% of the elected candidates responded to our survey. The same numbers four years ago were 76.1% and 79.1%. The high response rate reflects the high interest to the abduction issue among the Japanese.
The results for each question are as follows.

Most candidates support full-scale sanction on North Korea.

Q1: Do you believe that the abduction issue is one of national priorities?
95.1% of the elected respondents (368 out of 387) and 87.3% of all respondents agreed that the abduction issue is a national priority. The results show that many beyond party lines agree that the abduction is a national priority.

Percentage of elected respondents that believe the abduction issue is a national priority by party affiliation is as follows:

LDP 99.0%
DPJ 96.0%
New Komei 100%
Communist Party 11.1%

Only one elected candidate said no (0.2%). One LDP, nine DPJ and eight Communist Party members checked the “others” box.

Q2. North Korea unilaterally breached the promise made in August 2008 that they would reinvestigate the whereabouts of the abductees. Moreover, North Korea continued nuclear testing and fired missiles. In response to this situation, the Family Association and Rescue Abductees called for a full-scale sanction against North Korea to stop the flow of money, goods and people between Japan and North Korea to rescue the abductees. Do you support such full-scale sanction?

63.3% of elected respondents (245 out of 387) and 67.2% of all respondents said they support such a sanction. This proves that majority of respondents support a full-scale sanction as called for by our organizations. After a number of limited sanctions to North Korea, we have demanded the government for a tougher sanction stopping all flow of money, goods and people going into North Korea. We feel confident that support for such sanction is gathering. Many comments under the “others” indicated support for additional sanction, instead of a full-scale sanction.

Percentage of elected respondents that support full-scale sanction by party affiliation is as follows:
LDP 74.5%
DPJ 61.7%
New Komei Party 64.3% *More than two-thirds of elected respondents in the 3 major parties support full-scale sanction.

Five DPJ, one LDP, eight Communist Party, and three Social Democratic Party were against further sanction.

Q3. Headquarters for the Abduction Issue was established in inside the Japanese government in 2006 following our strong request for such government structure. The Headquarter assumes that all victims of abduction are still alive, secures safety and repatriates all victims, and demands that resolution of this issue be a prerequisite of Japan and North Korea normalization. Do you agree to the Headquarter’s stance on this issue?

95.1% of the elected respondents and 94.0% of all respondents agreed to these policies. Presumption that all victims are still alive, repatriation of the victims, and full resolution of the abduction issue as prerequisite for normalization are the Family Association and Rescue Abductees’ most important claims against North Korea. The North Korean government attempted to put an end to this issue by returning just five of the victims and claiming the rest of the victims are dead. We believe that this survey result reflects strong support from the Japanese people to our claims. It also proves that many respondents across party-lines and now in government also share our views.

Percentage of elected respondents that agree with our main claims by party affiliation is as follows:

LDP 98.0%
DPJ 95.2%
New Komei Party 100% *Almost all elected candidates in the three major parties are in line with our stance toward the abduction issue.

One DPJ and three Social Democratic Party members disagreed with our stance.

More reports on Bill Clinton's plea to release abductees from Japan to South Korea to the rogue state leader:

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/international/asia_pacific/view.bg?articleid=1189685

As it has been widely reported, Bill Clinton urged Kim Jon-il to free Japanese abductees in his recent trip to North Korea.

Free Japanese abductees
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_413322.html

TOKYO - FORMER US president Bill Clinton on his North Korea mission this week urged leader Kim Jong-Il to resolve questions over the fate of kidnapped Japanese nationals, a top Japanese official said on Thursday.

However, Kim gave no answer over what happened to the Japanese still missing since they were kidnapped in the 1970s and 80s to train the communist country's spies, the official said, citing unnamed US government sources.

Mr Clinton's surprise visit to win the release of US journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee reminded many in Japan of their own nationals who vanished inside the isolated country after being abducted during the Cold War.

North Korea in 2001 admitted to 13 abductions. It allowed five victims to return home but said eight more had died - a claim Japan has rejected.

Japan insists North Korea is still hiding survivors and has abducted more people than it admits, in a dispute that has hardened positions and proved a stumbling block in talks to end Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme.

Mr Clinton during his visit 'urged General Secretary Kim Jong-Il to make progress in the abduction issue,' Japan's top government spokesman Takeo Kawamura told journalists Thursday, quoting an unnamed senior US official.

The former US president had 'strongly urged (North Korea) to open a new investigation in accordance with an earlier agreement between Japan and North Korea,' Mr Kawamura, the chief cabinet secretary, told a media briefing.

Mr Kawamura said that, while speaking to the US official, he had 'expressed gratitude for the remarks by former president Clinton.' 'We hope that this event will help solve the abduction issue,' he said, adding however that Kim had reportedly offered no reply to Mr Clinton.

Japan and North Korea, which have no diplomatic relations, agreed last year to conduct a new probe into the fate of those still missing, in which Japan was to have been given unprecedented access to the secretive state.

However the investigation, which was to have concluded late last year, never materialised. -- AFP

Two articles reporting Mr. Aso's visit to Niigata where Megumi Yokota was abducted by North Korea agents to kick off his election campaign.

(Channel News Asia.com)
Japan's Aso slams North Korea as vote campaign begins
Posted: 01 August 2009 1752 hrs

TOKYO : Prime Minister Taro Aso kicked off a campaigning tour ahead of this month's general election on Saturday by focusing on the issue of kidnappings of Japanese citizens by North Korean agents during the Cold War.

more: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/446198/1/.html

(AFP)

(AFP) – 1 day ago

TOKYO — Prime Minister Taro Aso on Saturday kicked off a campaigning tour ahead of this month's general election by focusing on the issue of kidnappings of Japanese citizens by North Korean agents during the Cold War.

(*This is a draft translation of Rescue Abductees Japanese newsletter posted July 21, 2009)

Rescue Abductees held a press conference following the dissolution of the House of Representatives. It announced that it will conduct a survey for all candidates on their stance on the abduction issue. The results will be published as soon as they are compiled on its website.

Comments on the Upcoming General Election:
Shigeo Iizuka, FAVKN Chairman: We have spoke with all political parties in this general election to include the resolution of the abduction issue in their party manifestos and act on it once they are elected. Repatriating the kidnapped Japanese in North Korea is a non-partisan issue.

Shigeru Yokota: It seems that the North Korean government has not responded to serious interaction with Japan due to political instability. I hope that politics becomes more stable soon so that serious progress can be made to resolve this issue.

Akihiro Arimoto: There seems to be only few parliamentarians in both LDP and DPJ that have shown serious concerns over this issue. I hope that supporters of our organizations and our cause would support these candidates.

Teruaki Masumoto: I am deeply disappointed that the bill for the implementation of North Korean cargo inspection has been scrapped, now that the House of Representatives dissolved. The U.N. Resolution 1874 was a positive step for the international community to impose tough measures against North Korea. Although Japan was a strong advocate of this resolution, Japan is unable to implement the cargo inspection for the meantime.

Tsutomu Nishioka: I just returned from South Korea. Based on my conversations with North Korea experts and defectors there, Kim Jon-il is in critical condition. There will be a big change in North Korea soon.
I am told that South Korea and U.S. governments are preparing for the post Kim Jon-il situation. The elected party of this general election is likely to have to manage this critical situation in North Korea. I hope that it will be the government that would finally bring back Japanese citizens from North Korea. With imminent situation in North Korea, nuclear and missiles issues must also be discussed in this general election. Yet, most discussions among the candidates are inward-looking and lack the sense of urgency I observe from South Korea and U.S. National security and infringement of sovereignty should be important topics.

(*This is a draft translation of Rescue Abductees Japanese newsletter posted July 16, 2009)

Interim reports for the sanction against North Korea simulation project and the special assistance for the victims of abduction project were made at today’s session of LDP Special Committee on North Korean Abduction Issue (Chairman: FURUYA, Keiji). Officials from the MOFA and Cabinet Office also made remarks regarding measures against North Korea during the session.

Mr. Iizuka (FAVKN Chairman), Mr. Masumoto (FAVKN Secretary Gen.), Professor Nishioka (NRKN Acting Chairman), Mr. Hirata (NRKN Sec. Gen) attended the session along with former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and many other parliamentarians and officials from relevant ministries.

Following are the summaries of some of the attendees' comments:

LDP Special Committee – Call for further sanctions against North Korea
Mr. Furuya: Unfortunately, a critical bill to implement North Korean cargo inspections is about to be scrapped. We will work for the LDP manifesto to reflect our firm stance against North Korea.

Mr. Abe: Japan has been consistent since February 2007 six-party talks not to provide oil unless there is progress on the abduction issue. If we had provided oil to the state, that may have assisted missile development of North Korea.

Mr. Iizuka: I am concerned about the outcome of the general election. The fact that Japan is unable to inspect cargos (since the bill is being scrapped) following the U.N. resolution is extremely unfortunate. I strongly hope that the progress of the abduction is promised in the LDP manifesto.

Mr. Nishioka: We urge the government to be creative for the early implementation of the cargo inspection. Our organizations plan to publish the evaluation of the different parties’ policies regarding the abduction issue and the outcome of a survey for the candidates.

Committee members working to impose further sanctions against North Korea reviewed options for early implementation of the cargo inspection, prevention of access of critical technologies, financial sanction, and other sanctions that Japan itself could impose against North Korea. The committee will also be preparing for future U.N. resolutions and the conditions after Kim Jon-il is no longer in power.

Assistance for the victims of abduction in Japan will be extended for another five years, continued investigation of the missing Japanese members suspected of abduction were also agreed to be included in the final report of this committee.

*This is the unofficial translation of Rescue Abductee’s statement published on July 15, 2009 in Japanese.

The bill to implement North Korean cargo inspection called for in a recent U.N. resolution is likely to be scrapped, according to reports.

This will imply that Japan requiring firm stance against North Korea to repatriate citizens kidnapped by the regime will likely be unable to implement cargo inspections. This is a situation we must avoid.

The rescue of Japanese citizens in North Korea is a non-partisan issue with utmost urgency. For this reason, we call for all those involved in passing this legislation to take creative ways to allow Japan to inspect North Korean cargos.

We further strongly call for the abduction issue to be a topic of discussion in the upcoming general election.

We will review and compare the parties’ manifesto on their stance on the abduction issue and plan to conduct a survey to question the parties’ take on this issue.

We also kindly ask the voters to take into account this issue as they elect candidates.

AFVKN Chairman, Shigeo Iizuka
NRKN Chairman, Yoshiaki Fujino

Former North Korean spy Kim Hyon Hui said Wednesday she believes Japanese abductee Yaeko Taguchi is still alive, bringing hope to the missing woman's son and family members of others taken to North Korea...

full story here:
http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200903120033.html
PUSAN--Former North Korean spy Kim Hyon Hui said Wednesday she believes Japanese abductee Yaeko Taguchi is still alive, bringing hope to the missing woman's son and family members of others taken to North Korea.
Taguchi's son, Koichiro Iizuka, 32, after meeting Kim here, said her words gave "new hope for our efforts" to rescue those forcibly taken by the reclusive state.
Taguchi was abducted by North Korean agents in 1978 and was forced to teach Japanese to Kim in Pyongyang for 12/3 years from 1981. In 2002, Pyongyang reported that Taguchi had died in July 1986.
Kim, 47, who was convicted of blowing up a Korean Air jet in 1987, killing 115 people on board, met Koichiro and his adopted father, Shigeo Iizuka, 70, who is Taguchi's brother.
The 11/2-hour meeting, held at a convention hall under heavy security, was the first between Kim and an abductee's family.
Kim, who was sentenced to death for the Korean Air bombing but later pardoned, had not made a public appearance since 1997, when she got married.
When Kim met the two around 11 a.m., she greeted Shigeo and then embraced Koichiro, telling him in Japanese: "You have grown big. You look like your mother. I wanted to see you sooner."
Kim, with tears in her eyes, told Koichiro that one day he would meet his mother.
Koichiro was just 1 year old when Taguchi disappeared. She was 22.
In a news conference after the meeting, Shigeo Iizuka thanked Kim for "clearly testifying to the existence of Yaeko Taguchi."
He went on to say, "I hope this meeting will be a good opportunity to advance Japan and South Korea's efforts to resolve the abduction issue."
At a Japan-North Korea summit in 2002, Pyongyang admitted its agents had abducted Japanese; it said five abductees were alive but eight others, including Taguchi, were dead.
But Kim said she heard between January and October 1987 in North Korea that Taguchi had been moved to another location, leading her to believe the abductee was still alive.
Taguchi was also reportedly sighted in October 1986, three months after Pyongyang said she died. There has also been a report she married a South Korean abductee.
But Kim told the news conference she had never heard whom Taguchi had married. She also said she thinks another abductee, Megumi Yokota, is alive. However, she did not give any specific supporting evidence of either woman's survival.
Pyongyang has denied Taguchi was Kim's Japanese teacher, who taught under the Korean name Lee Un Hae. The North also denies any involvement in the Korean Air bombing.
The meeting was arranged after Kim expressed her hope to see the Iizukas in January, and the family asked the Japanese and South Korean governments for mediation.
The Iizukas, who learned of Taguchi's fate only after Kim's arrest, have for years sought a chance to talk to her to find out about Taguchi's life in North Korea.
"Kim said Yaeko-san, my mother, is alive. She also said she would become my Korean mother. I am very pleased," Koichiro said.
Kim told the news conference Koichiro reminded her of his mother.
"How I wish Taguchi were here with us," she said.
Kim, who has not met any of the Korean Air bombing's bereaved families, said "a miracle can happen" if efforts are made to regain abductees, while respecting the North's "pride."(IHT/Asahi: March 12,2009)

National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea, NARKN

NARKN News
March 10, 2009

Macau Abduction Victim taught Chinese to former North Korean terrorist Kim Hyon-Hui.

It has been revealed that former North Korean operative, Kim Hyon-Hui, learned Chinese from Ms. Hong Leng-Ieng, who was abducted by North Korea from Macau in 1978.

Kim Hyon-Hui said she, along with Kim Suk-Hui, another North Korean agent, learned Mandarin from Ms. Hong from June to August 1984 at the Yongsong No.40 “guest house” located in the north of Pyongyang.

“I got basic Chinese lessons from a Macau woman. That woman who taught me Mandarin was around five years older than me. Her name is “Miss Kong” (the Korean pronunciation of the Chinese character for “Hong”). She was a typical Chinese beauty. I heard she had been abducted from Macau. She told me she once had tried to escape from a detention center in North Korea but was recaptured. I’m sure she is the very woman Ms. Choi Un-Hee (a famous South Korean actress who was abducted but later escaped) noted she had met in North Korea.”

Kim Hyon-Hui revealed this information to Mr. Cho Gab-Je, a prominent South Korean journalist, in late February. She later identified Hong Leng-Ieng from a photograph provided by NARKN.

Representatives of NARKN, after an extensive investigation, gave a presentation on the case of Hong Leng-Ieng at the International Conference on the Reality of North Korean Abductions and Its Resolution held in Tokyo in December 2006. NARKN also provided a detailed report to the Chinese authorities.

Fundamentally, the governments of Japan, South Korea, and China should put the Abduction issue on the agenda of the Six-Party Talks and co-operatively mount pressure on North Korea to resolve it. This has not yet been done.

It is also regrettable that the Chinese government seems to have made no effort to rescue its own citizens despite clear evidence of their abduction and continuing detention by North Korea.

We sincerely hope, in the wake of this new revelation by Kim Hyon-Hui, keener interest of the international community will be given to the abduction of Macau residents including, first and foremost, by China.