The Present Situation and Outlook of the Abduction Issue


Briefer: Ms. Kyoko Nakayama, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister
Date: 28 September 2007
Pamphlet(PDF):　For the Return of All the Abductees
Related Information: Abduction Issue Awareness Press Tour(December 4-5, 2007) (Application Open!)


I am very grateful for the opportunity to speak today to all of you from overseas here at the Foreign Press Center, Japan (FPCJ) about Japan’s abduction problem with North Korea. I’d like to begin by thanking FPCJ president and former ambassador to the Republic of Korea Terusuke Terada and everyone else at the FPCJ concerned with giving us this opportunity. I think that everyone here today is quite likely deeply interested in the issue of the abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korea. We are very grateful that the abduction issue is important to you and for reporting it in the media of your home countries. All of you have the small leaflet that was distributed earlier. (The copy of the leaflet is attached to this document). On pages 4 and 5 are photos of victims that our government has confirmed to have been abducted as well as some general information about them. Also, on the previous page, you will find information about major developments in Japanese–North Korean relations, which you might wish to look over as a quick refresher on the current state of affairs.

Of the 17 abduction victims confirmed by the Japanese government, five have already returned to Japan and are living here with their families. Three of the abductees—Yutaka Kume, Kyoko Matsumoto, and Megumi Yokota—were seized and taken to North Korea 30 years ago, in 1977. Ten of the victims—Minoru Tanaka, Yaeko Taguchi, Yasushi Chimura, Fukie Chimura (formerly Hamamoto), Kaoru Hasuike, Yukiko Hasuike (formerly Okudo), Shuichi Ichikawa, Rumiko Masumoto, Hitomi Soga, and Miyoshi Soga were abducted the following year. Toru Ishioka, Kaoru Matsuki, and Tadaaki Hara were abducted in 1980 and Keiko Arimoto was abducted in 1983. Ishioka and Matsuki were students seized by North Korea while studying in Spain, and Aritomo, also a student at the time, was seized while studying in England.

The motivations for these abductions are many. It is believed that Yutaka Kume and Tadaaki Hara were victims of a stolen identity scheme (called hainori in Japanese) in
which North Korean spies assume the identities of Japanese. North Korea is believed to
have abducted them out of fear that their presence could compromise the spying activities in Japan and South Korea of the individuals masquerading as them. Hitomi Soga is thought to have been abducted to serve as a bride for the American defector Charles Robert Jenkins. The others were seized for the purpose of obtaining information about Japan or to assist in socializing North Korean spies as Japanese, that is, so that they could learn the language and living habits of Japanese. Consequently, those individuals abducted by the North Koreans for the purpose of learning Japanese behavior were Japanese young people from typical Japanese households with a strong sense of responsibility, physically fit, and trusted by the young people in their communities. Yaeko Taguchi is frequently cited as the classic case of an abduction committed for the purpose of learning Japanese behavior. Taguchi lived with the North Korean spy Kim Hyeon Heui so that the latter could learn how to live and behave as a Japanese. As all of you know, Kim blew up a Korean Air jet, a crime she carried out registered under the Japanese name of Mayumi Hachiya and with a forged Japanese passport.

Accounts given by the five victims who have returned to Japan make clear that abducted Japanese are deprived of all freedom and live under strict surveillance. They are forbidden contact with parents and siblings by either telephone or letter. They live in remote locations unable to interact even with ordinary North Koreans, and we now know that even their homes are bugged with listening devices. Needless to say, they are not allowed to go shopping on their own and must always do so in the company of a so-called counselor, who is in fact a guard. And of course, their freedom to move their place of residence is denied as well. They have been taken against their will to where they now live and forced to live there under surveillance.

Given this state of affairs, Japan views the abduction of Japanese by North Korea as criminal behavior and terrorist acts. These abductions are acts of terrorism that have been going on for 30 years and continue to the present day. On September 17, 2002 Prime Minister Koizumi made the first-ever visit to North Korea by a Japanese head of state. During a meeting with Kim Jong-il, the North Koreans disclosed that five abductees were in North Korea, that eight had died, and that two had not entered North Korea. As stated in the leaflet, the causes and circumstances given for the deaths were entirely unsatisfactory. These accounts had so little substance that we decided on the spot that North Korea had fabricated them. Japan strongly insisted that North Korea produce detailed information and evidence concerning the individuals it has reported as dead or not having entered North Korea. During the Japan−North Korea working level talks held in November 2004, North Korea turned over to Japan an urn said to contain the remains of Megumi Yokota, but an analysis by a research body in Japan determined that the remains in fact belonged to several different individuals. In Japan the custom is to treat a person’s remains with the utmost respect, and for the North Koreans to take the remains of some unknown person, say they are Megumi’s, and hand them over to us ignited fierce indignation on our side. In December 2004, after the results of the analysis were released, Japan was so disgusted at this abominable act that it immediately took measures to temporarily suspend its humanitarian assistance to North Korea.

After these events, North Korea consistently held the stance that the abduction issue had been resolved, and since the start of 2005 has made no effort to sincerely discuss or deal with the issue any further. Since Japan has confirmed that North Korea has abducted Japanese citizens, taken away their freedom, and held them against their will, our goal has been to secure the return home of all abductees at the earliest possible date. We have consistently demanded that North Korea guarantee the safety of victims still in North Korea and return them to Japan. Our stance is that Japan−North Korea relations cannot possibly be normalized without resolving the abduction issue. I know all of you would agree that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to establish friendly relations with or commit to provide aid to a country that had abducted citizens from your own and continued to hold them against their will.

We have demanded that all abductees be released, but North Korea has not once acted to release anyone and return them to Japan. The five abductees now living in Japan were released on the condition that they later return to North Korea. A number of difficult problems accompany our demand that North Korea release all the people it holds as hostage. North Korea has the advantage on the abduction issue and under the present circumstances is under absolutely no pressure to act. So the questions focus on how do we compel them to take action? How do we move forward in a way that convinces North Korea that the better course for them is to send the abductees home and that returning them home is the only alternative?

Following the handing over of what North Korea claimed to be Megumi’s remains, Japan froze humanitarian assistance to North Korea. Then, in July of last year, North Korea launched a missile and in the following October conducted a nuclear bomb test, prompting Japan to impose punitive sanctions in response. The punitive sanctions triggered by the missile launch and nuclear bomb test were put into effect having also taken into account the fact that North Korea had yet to release any abductees. Japan has persistently tried to persuade North Korea that it is in its own interest to free all Japanese abduction victims and return them home, but mere persuasion has failed to obtain results. Consequently, we are at work on gaining the understanding of the international community by explaining the depth of the problem to nations and international organizations that deal closely with North Korea. Currently, the six-party talks are under way, and at the talks held on February 13 of this year, a Japan–North Korea working group was set up with the abduction issue among the topics for discussion, thus incorporating the issue of the abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korea into the framework of an international conference. Recently Prime Minister Fukuda has discussed the issue with President Bush by telephone conference and Minister for Foreign Affairs Machimura has likewise discussed it with the foreign affairs ministers of various countries so that other nations will have a better understanding of the problem.

It is important to note that Japan is not the only country that has had its citizens abducted by North Korea. Many more South Koreans have been abducted and the abduction of people from Thailand, Romania, and Lebanon has been confirmed as well. According to Choi Eun-hee, a South Korean actress once abducted by North Korea, a very attractive woman painter of French nationality was enticed into going to North Korea and subsequently held there against her will.

In Japan, the cabinet of former Prime Minister Abe set up a headquarters for the abduction issue on September 29 last year. Until then there had been no office within the government specifically charged with handling abduction issues. Twenty-nine years after Megumi’s abduction the Japanese government at last set up such a body, and it began taking action in a number of areas. For example, in July Japan started transmitting shortwave radio broadcasts into North Korea. The broadcast includes 30 minutes in Japanese under the title furusato no kaze (wind from home) and 30 minutes in Korean under the title nihon no kaze (wind from Japan). During broadcasts the families of victims call out to their sons and daughters. The broadcasts also inform listeners about current events and the like in Japan. Moreover, every year the week of December 10 through 16 has been established as the North Korean Human Rights Abuses Awareness Week, during which time the national government, local governments, and the families of victims and other concerned citizens come together as part of an extremely vigorous effort to demand the resolution of the abduction problem and the return home of abductees at the earliest possible date. And, as I said earlier, since it is difficult for Japan alone to compel North Korea to take action, we plan to host a tour of domestic abduction sites for foreign news correspondents in Japan as a way to ensure that people from other countries thoroughly understand that Japanese are now in North Korea living in hostage conditions. The event is planned for early December and we invite everyone here today to take part. Moreover, starting in November we will invite overseas news correspondents to come to Japan as part of a program to deepen their understanding of the issue.

Megumi Yokota was abducted 30 years ago and it has been 10 years since the Japanese government confirmed that North Korea had abducted Japanese citizens. Even now victims of abduction are denied their freedom and forced to live under harsh surveillance in North Korea. Japan cannot normalize relations with North Korea while that country holds Japanese citizens hostage. Over and over we have demanded that North Korea return to Japan and restore the freedom of the Japanese citizens it has abducted. Moreover, our policy that normalization of relations cannot occur without resolving the abduction issue has not changed with the forming of a new cabinet.

We sometimes hear the argument that normalizing relations would open up North Korea to the outside world and that the victims would be able to return home as a result. But the fact is the abductees do not live freely in North Korea, are never seen by the North Korean public, and are kept in isolated areas far from any human contact. So it seems reasonable to conclude that even if we normalize relations the victims would not be free to return. To put it differently, returning the abductees to Japan is the first step toward dramatically moving the Japan–North Korea normalization process forward. As I mentioned earlier, since North Korea has made no commitment to return the victims home, this is an especially troublesome point. North Korea is a dictatorship and that means as long as no decision is made from above to free the victims, North Korean authorities are unable to take any action to free them. We hope that North Korea realizes that freeing the Japanese it has abducted will immensely improve Japan–North Korea relations and that we want talks with North Korea to move forward based on a commitment by them to free the hostages.

As I’ve said several times, when a nation’s citizens are abducted and held hostage, it is natural for that country to want to rescue every one of them and to act accordingly. Since the fact that Japanese are being held as hostages is beyond dispute, we want everyone here to understand that the Japanese government is working hard to persuade North Korea to free each and every one of them.

Questions & Answers

Q: The abduction issue is a terribly serious problem and one that everyone wants to see resolved as soon as possible. So why is the issue still unresolved even after so many years? One idea for a solution involves the support of the Indonesian government, because ever since the time of our first president Sukarno and up to the present Indonesia has had excellent relations with North Korea. Moreover, Japan and Indonesia also have excellent relations. I think making skillful use of the influence of the Indonesian government seems promising. What do you think? Also, it so happens that Prime Minister Fukuda chairs the Japan-Indonesia Association, so I think it would be a good idea for the Prime Minister and the president of Indonesia to talk. I have lived in Japan for 15 years and had this conversation with former Prime Minister Abe about five years ago, but he was not interested. I would like to hear what you think about this idea.
A: Thank you. It is extremely regrettable that the abduction problem has remained unresolved for so long. The fact that these things have occurred and yet the Japanese have not been more aware of it is something that those of us responsible for the issue think very unfortunate indeed as we go about our work. And it seems quite likely that the unique environment in Japan in which North Korea was portrayed as some kind of utopia was a major factor contributing to the occurrence of these abductions. Moreover, Japanese just could not imagine that another country would abduct its citizens, and this too has contributed to the problem remaining unresolved for so long. The result of this is many victims and a problem that has been drawn out and left unresolved for a long time.
You suggest making use of the close relationship of Japan and Indonesia. We are especially grateful for the help of the Indonesian government and people concerning the abduction problem. When Hitomi Soga returned to Japan, and then wanted her family members—her husband Mr. Jenkins and daughters Brinda and Mika—to join her, Indonesia provided a place for them to reunite. The Indonesian government and people went to great trouble on the occasion of their reuniting. Thanks to their effort the family returned to Japan where they now enjoy living in freedom. It is an example where the cooperation of Indonesia was crucial in securing the return of a victim and her family to Japan. We hope for Indonesia’s continued understanding of the abduction issue and continued support in resolving it.

Q: Ms. Nakayama, you have been working on this problem since 2002, and anyone taking an objective look at the situation would conclude that North Korea has much more to gain by normalizing relations with Japan than if it does not. Nonetheless, North Korea hasn’t moved to normalize relations by resolving the abduction issue, and this leads me to suppose that certain circumstances exist that prevent it from doing so. I would like to hear what you think about this aspect of the issue.
A: If the leader of North Korea were to simply order the release of the abductees, those concerned with the matter would set about making it so and talks with Japan would move forward. But there has been no movement at all in that direction. I have to phrase this carefully, but we do not believe the reason that the North Koreans are not doing anything is because the victims have already died. We have no physical evidence, but in light of various statements by North Korea and how it has responded to the abduction issue suggests that there are still several abductees alive in North Korea. Therefore, the return home of more victims is still a distinct possibility. The situation is best described as not having yet reached the point where they have committed to freeing the abduction victims and not as one in which nothing can be done to move the process forward.

Q: The Fukuda Cabinet is now in office, and while the basic policy toward the abduction issue will remain the same, could you please tell us if there will be any change in the methods employed to resolve it?
A: As you say, the fundamental policy that normalization cannot happen without the return of abductees will not change. Japan is not fundamentally opposed to talks and is willing to engage in them. To this end, we have taken measures such as applying punitive sanctions and carrying on talks through third-country intermediaries as a way to force North Korea to the negotiating table. We have not applied sanctions simply for the sake of applying sanctions but rather as a way to induce North Korea to engage in a sincere dialogue. The Japanese government takes engaging in talks quite seriously. If North Korea’s thinking is that Japan has declined to engage in talks so far, it might also be able to conclude that conditions for entering into talks are more favorable now they have been in the past.
I heard that South Korean official said that he would tell North Korea in his own way that resolving pending issues including the abduction issue is vital to North Korea’s own future. We are so grateful for such cooperation from other countries.

Q: Recently, high-level American officials have said on several occasions that they are considering removing North Korea from the list of countries that sponsor terrorism even though North Korea has not made a sincere effort to deal with the abduction issue. What do you think about the US taking this action without coordinating with Japan? And do you think the US intends to take such an action?
A: The US has stated that it will not sacrifice Japan-US relations on this point. Moreover, since the US understands Japan’s earnest desire to see the return home of abduction victims, we can expect that the US will not remove North Korea from the list of countries that sponsor terrorism. Indeed, I think that we can be certain of this.

(END)

* Given on September 28, 2007, at the Foreign Press Center/Japan (FPCJ). This paper is reserved for internal use; any reproduction or quotation is forbidden without prior permission from the FPCJ. ©FPCJ 2007