Japan Brief / FPCJ, No. 0915
March 12, 2009


Abductee’s Family Members Meet Former North Korean Spy

Two family members of Yaeko Taguchi, a Japanese citizen abducted by North Korea, met with former North Korean spy Kim Hyon-hui, who was sentenced to death for blowing up a Korean Air Lines passenger jet in 1987 and later pardoned, in Busan, South Korea, on March 11. The family members were Taguchi’s son, Koichiro Iizuka, and brother, Shigeo Iizuka.

Taguchi was abducted by North Korea in 1978, when she was 22, leaving behind Koichiro, who was then one, and another child. It has been revealed that Kim Hyon-hui lived with Taguchi at a compound on the outskirts of Pyongyang for 20 months and learned Japanese from her. Koichiro had been strongly requesting a meeting with Kim Hyon-hui since 2004 in order to “get an image of my mother.”

According to reports in Japan’s main newspapers, in the meeting Kim Hyon-hui spoke about Taguchi’s life in North Korea and other topics. At a joint press conference held after the meeting, she said of Taguchi’s whereabouts, “At a compound in North Korea in 1987, I heard that Ms. Taguchi had been taken somewhere else. I don’t think she died. I didn’t hear anything about her marriage partner.” This differs from North Korea’s account that Taguchi married another Japanese abductee in 1984 and died in a traffic accident in 1986.

According to the reports, Kim Hyon-hui also said of Megumi Yokota, another Japanese abductee, “Megumi taught Japanese to my spy colleague. She was hospitalized with a mental illness, but I hear that it was not so serious. I do not believe that she died [as North Korea asserts].”

In the joint press conference, Koichiro Iizuka said, “My five-year wish has been realized. I cannot express how grateful I am.” Shigeo Iizuka, who is chairman of the Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea, commented, “It is a historic and emotional day.”

Speaking to the press in the evening of March 11, Prime Minister Taro Aso said of the meeting, “It was the wish of the Iizukas and others for several years, so I’m glad the meeting was achieved.” The prime minister also expressed gratitude for the South Korean government’s cooperation and added that “as before, we will continue to do our utmost” toward a solution of the problem.

In addition, after hearing a report on the outcome of the meeting from Koichiro and Shigeo Iizuka, Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said during his regular press conference in the morning of March 12, “Now that this meeting has been achieved, the Japanese government wants to further strengthen solidarity between Japan and the Republic of Korea [South Korea] toward a solution of the problem.”

Newspaper Editorials

Japan’s five main national newspapers all carried editorials on the issue on March 12 in which they pointed out that the meeting had been achieved because of the inauguration of the administration of President Lee Myung-bak and a change in Seoul’s policy toward North Korea from the soft approach of the previous administration under President Roh Moo-hyun. The newspapers welcomed the realization of the meeting and expressed hope that, as a result, cooperation between Japan and South Korea toward a solution of the abduction problem would be strengthened.

The Yomiuri Shimbun editorial, headlined “Cooperation vital over abduction issue,” expressed hope for cooperation between Japan and South Korea with the aim of solving the abduction problem. It noted, “Several hundred South Koreans reportedly have been abducted to North Korea. South Korea may have more inside information about North Korea than Japan, and it may be able to produce leads confirming the safety of Japanese abductees. Strengthening cooperation with South Korea to solve the abduction issues would greatly benefit Japan.” Regarding the fact that Pyongyang has not conducted a reinvestigation of the abductions despite its promise to do so at consultations between Japan and North Korea held in August 2008, the Yomiuri criticized North Korea as “totally insincere.” It added, “The Japanese government should continue to demand a reinvestigation of the abductions.”

Under the headline “North Korea abductions: Japan, South Korea should cooperate on the issue,” the Asahi Shimbun editorial said of the abductions and the 1987 bombing of a Korean Air Lines passenger jet, “The crimes perpetrated under the peculiar North Korean dictatorship were abhorrent.” It went on, “North Korea’s past heinous crimes and current behavior [the nuclear and missile problems and so on] must not be tolerated. At the same time, however, applying pressure alone cannot break the deadlock.” The Asahi concluded, “Despite the anger and grief, we have to create an environment to persuade North Korea by combining dialogue and pressure. That is the only way.”

The Mainichi Shimbun editorial, headlined “Meeting with former death-row convict Kim hopefully a step toward solving abduction issue,” said of the latest testimony by Kim Hyon-hui, “It highlighted the contradictions in North Korea’s account.” Saying that “there are still many unnatural points in North Korea’s account,” the Mainichi cited specific examples of contradiction and, pressing the North Korean side, remarked, “North Korea must reinvestigate these unnatural points and show results that can convince the Japanese side.”

The Sankei Shimbun editorial, titled “Meeting with Kim Hyon-hui; reunion with mother must also be managed,” similarly pointed out the contradictions between the testimony of Kim Hyon-hui and North Korea’s account. Expressing the wish that “this new testimony can play a role in solving the abduction problem from now on,” it commented, “We hope that opportunities for the exchange of information between victims, the families of victims, and related persons in Japan and South Korea will increase and that cooperation between the governments of the two countries toward a solution of the abduction problem will be further strengthened.” The Sankei added, “The meeting was also a good opportunity to convey once again to the world that the abductions [by North Korea] were an unforgiveable state crime that was connected to terrorist acts by North Korea [such as the blowing up of the Korean Air Lines passenger jet].”

Under the headline “Encircling net around North Korea centered on Japan-US-ROK axis,” The Nikkei editorial stated, “Many South Koreans have also been abducted by North Korea. Following the achievement of this meeting, we hope that cooperation between Japan and South Korea toward an early solution of the abduction problem will be further strengthened.” It added, “And not only the abduction problem, a joint response to North Korea’s nuclear and missile problems is important as well.” In particular, The Nikkei emphasized that a response to North Korea’s expected missile launch was urgent. It commented, “It is necessary for Japan, the United States, and South Korea to cooperate in strengthening the net around North Korea and prevent the missile launch. . . . Centered on Japan, the United States, and South Korea, related countries should walk in step and urge North Korea to exercise self-restraint through various diplomatic efforts and warnings.”

(Copyright 2009 Foreign Press Center / Japan)


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