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North Korea Kidnapped My Daughter

Sakie Yokota, the mother of abductee Megumi Yokota, has announced that an English translation of her book North Korea Kidnapped My Daughter will be published and sold in America early next year:

“The abduction issue isn’t well known in the United States. I want people throughout the world to know that many abductees in North Korea are waiting to be rescued,” 72-year-old Sakie Yokota said.

Yokota plans to give copies of her book to U.S. President George W. Bush and other G8 leaders visiting Japan to attend the Hokkaido Toyako Summit, to be held later this month.

28 comments - What do you think? Posted by James - July 6, 2008 at 2:58 pm

Categories: Books Tags: japan, north korea

sliders_alpha

why does north korea, kidnap japanese?

Michael

RE: Why do North Koreans Kidnap Japanese?
Well the answer is quite simple, I guess all you need to do is look in your history books to find out. Oh, wait maybe that’s the reason why you don’t know, it’s NOT in your your history books because your country doesn’t want you to know. On that note, the Japanese, during the occupation of Korea (1904-1945)(China, and South-East Asia too!) actually kidnapped hundreds of thousands of people as well. Women were often forced into prostitution or “sexual service” to raise the moral of the Japanese military. Still, many other Koreans were simply kidnapped, displaced and forced into labor camps around Asia. So, I guess my answer to your question “why does north korea, kidnap japanese?” lies in another question which is; Why did the Japanese kidnap hundreds of thousands of people during the occupation of Asia?
Well people do bad things (yes, even the Japanese!?) And if you speak to North Koreans or South Koreans over the fact that North Korea has Kidnapped over 20 or 50 (or even if 100 people) doesn’t matter that much when compared to all of the people rapped, killed, kidnapped by the Japanese.
Sure, it’s very very sad for ALL the Kidnapped Japanese people and their families, but also very sad for all the Koreans and their families who still clearly remember all the damage that Japan did.
I hope one day that all Japanese people can read everything about Japanese history in their history books so they don’t grow up wondering questions like yours. I don’t mean to offend anyone, just inform. Have a nice day! I love both Japanese and Korean People
Thank-you,
Michael from Canada

stereo

Michael, it seems you do not know what Peace Treaty is all about. When a peace treaty is signed, all the claims against each other are settled. You cannot get second bite out of alleged wrong doing of another nation thereafter.

Korea signed peace treaty (or Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea) with Japan on June 22, 1965, and abandoned its claims against Japan.
China signed peace treaty (or Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Japan and the People’s Republic of China) with Japan on August 12, 1978, and abandoned its claims against Japan.

If you really hate peace, just ignore peace treaties and go on revenging forever and more. But most people in the world are wiser than that.
http://pontasmemorandum.blogspot.com/ ponta

So were Japanese kidnapped to become prostitutes in North Korea? —Ridiculous.
As for sex slave , it is true that many Asian women were exploited by the military.
During WWⅡ, Japanese military exploited Asian women.
During Korean war and after that, Korean and American military exploited them.
In both cases, the local agents recruited the women .In some case, parents sold the children, In other cases by deception, or force.
It was not uncommon in Asia that the parents sold their children out
of poverty.
(it is not still uncommon in some part of Asia.
http://www.abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id=5312009&page=1)

In both cases, the military was involved in setting up the brothel.
J military approved of the brothels and regulated the agents.
K military emulated J system.
In both cases the women suffered from the exploitation.
Japanese government issued apologies and offered compensations.
Korea government has done nothing but spread such propaganda as your comment.
As for the reason why Japanese were kidnapped, the people who returned from NK were said to be forced to work as an interpreter and a teacher of Japanese language.
I don’t mean to offend anyone, just inform. I love both Japanese and Korean people.
Thank you.
Ponta from Tokyo.
nigelboy

The problem with Michael’s argument is that it gives any country who were opressed one time or another to basically have a carte blance to do whatever to the nationals of the former oppressor.
http://chirimotsumoreba.net Jordan

Haha. The fabled Japanese textbook makes yet another appearance! Let me know when you’ve actually seen one yourself. Godwin’s law of East Asian History: As time progresses so does the likelihood that Japanese high school textbooks will take center stage as the prosecution’s main exhibit in the case to prove that Japanese people have absolutely no clue about their own history.

llolly

The reason North Korea kidnaps Japanese, is that they are closer
together, more persuasive to leave, because it is an Island, plus
it might be difficult to get Japanese food in North Korea.
Plus many things.
Kevin

There is more information at wiki about the abductions:

It is believed that the victims were abducted to teach the Japanese language and culture at North Korean spy schools.[4] Older victims were also abducted to obtain their identities, but these abductees are believed to have been killed immediately.[citation needed] It is also speculated that Japanese women were abducted to become wives to a group of North Korea-based Japanese terrorists after a 1970 Japan Airlines hijacking, and that some may have been abducted because they happened to witness North Korean agents in Japan, which may explain Yokota’s kidnapping.[6]
interloper

You guys are killing me.

North Koreans kidnaps Japs because they are freakin’ EVIL. It’s that simple. These evil North Korean commies are never to be trusted.

I have to say it must suck living in the bizarro shithouse that is North Korea eating second hand dog meat and dirt.

helical

Ah, if only the world were that dualistically simple, life would be so much easier.

A

The Japanese invade foreign countries and hold them hostage at gun point(kidnapping an entire nation). Then they murder a few million people for no reason, exploit and kidnap hundreds of thousands of people for things like sexual slavery, mining and menial labor. And when all is said an done, they distort their textbooks and claim theyve already apologized. Which is considered a joke by most of the worlds media(western and Taiwanese included). Furthermore an apology isnt suppose to absolve Japan of all guilt. Its suppose to be a symbolic gesture of remorse.

Meanwhile, North Korea has only kidnapped 13, thats right 13 Japanese civilians compared to the countless millions murdered and kidnapped by the Japanese. And unlike the Japanese, the North Korean government acknowledged and even issued a real apology.

Its all too funny seeing insane North Korea having the moral high ground on this issue. As well as behaving better then the Japanese government. All too funny.

http://pontasmemorandum.blogspot.com/2008/02/let-diaglogue-between-j-and-nj-begin.html ponta

Wow, Is North Korean propaganda agent at work on the Internet?
I hope you’ll get a medal from your Dear Leader.
.

A

So are you telling me those atrocities never happened? That the Japanese government has issued a direct apology? Are you also telling me that Kims government hasnt issued an apology for the mere kidnapping of 13 Japanese civilians while the Japanese government refuses to do so for the tens of millions of lives they ruined? Its funny to see a country as heinous as North Korea having the moral high ground over Japan.

What fantasy world do you live in? I noticed that whenever a person makes a point that goes against the Japanese view. Japanese nationalists counter with the flimsy retort “you are or youre anti-Japanese. No decent arguments or rebuttals. No hard research or data to prove their point. Only a baseless comment on ethnicity.

The Japanese government itself only acknowledges the kidnapping of 16 civilians. People like you over blow it and act as if thousands were kidnapped. The North Korean government only acknowledges 13. I believe the North Koreans on this one due to Japans proven track record of lieing and because the North Koreans have no reason to lie, considering that theyve already acknowledge kidnapping 13 others. Its probably the Japanese governments attempt to keep the entire incident alive so that they can revise article 9.

ponta

I think you deserve two medals from KJI.

But anyway.
It is true that Japan colonized Korea.
It is true that the colonization was wrong.
It is true that Japan apologized to Korea.
It is true that Japan compensated for Korea.
It is true no other colonizers comensated to the colonized nations.
It is true that Japanese and Korean fought together against the Allies.
It is true that Koreans exploited the sex slave before and afer the colonization.
It is true that they have not face up to the facts.
It is true that NK abducted Japanese citizens.
It is true that N Korea has not given an full account of other Japanese abducted.

Japan wants to save Japanese citizens from Evil Empire ruled by Evil dictator.

No one should exploit the past wrongness on the part of the others after several apologies and compensation to hide his/her own injustice.

A

Oh wow, I deserve a medal from KJI for speaking the truth about Japan? What a great come back. Goes to show how much you know. Way to go. Good job. And if you havent figured it out by now, im being sarcastic. And let me correct you on your biased view. Note that the whole world including the US, Europe and even pro Japan countries like Taiwan regularly criticizes Japan for its faulty view of history. Why is it that the whole world is somehow “wrong” yet Japan is somehow right?

Here are some corrections.

Japan apologized to Korea: No they havent. The Japanese government has yet to apologize on a direct level. Dont even include the apologies of private individuals or the Prime Ministers personal apology. Because its obviously not the view of the Japanese government. An apology isnt suppose to fix or resolve any issues. An apology exists to show remorse and regret of past actions. Something that Japan regularly does not do. I noticed that a lot of Japanese nationalists use to often repeated “but we already apologize” as if apologizing somehow resolves the whole issue.

Japan compensated Korea: Japan compensated the Korean dictator in charge at the time who wasnt democratically elected. And they payed him mere pennies. Furthermore, compensation does not absolve Japan of any or all guilt.

It is true no other colonizers comensated to the colonized nations: This doesnt even make any sense. And whatever you mean im willing to bet its wrong.

It is true that Japanese and Korean fought together against the Allies: And Japanese-Americans fought the Japanese in world war 2. Your point? See what youre doing? Youre placing the blame on Koreans again by stating that “some” Korean foughts with the Japanese. Whats the point of bringing this fact up again? Please clarify and dont lie.

It is true that Koreans exploited the sex slave before and afer the colonization: And so did Japan. On a much grander scale. What youre doing is placing all of the blame on countries like Korea. As if Japan has not fault whatsoever in the matter.

It is true that they have not face up to the facts: You mean Japan right? Cause thats what most of the world thinks.

It is true that NK abducted Japanese citizens: And its also true that Japan got away easy with the murder of millions of people.

It is true that N Korea has not given an full account of other Japanese abducted: And you base this assertion on what? Your ability to read the minds of North Korean officials. You do realize that the Japanese government itself acknowledges only 16 kidnap victims. North Korea acknolwedges 13. A mere 3 people difference. Not the hundreds or thousands people like you make it out to be. 13 Japanese kidnap victims vs the tens of millions of lives that the Japanese took. Unfair isnt it?
ponta

You’ll get three medals.

Japan apologized to Korea
—Korea has no intention to accept apologoes, because she wants to use the victim card..

Japan compensated Korea: Japan compensated the Korean dictator.
—It is none of our business how stupid Korean leader at the time were.

Japanese and Korean fought together against the Allies: And Japanese-Americans fought the Japanese in world war 2. Your point?
—My point is that Koreans should face up to the fact.

It is true that Koreans exploited the sex slave before and after the colonization: And so did Japan. On a much grander scale. What youre doing is placing all of the blame on countries like Korea.
—I forgot to mention the fact most of agents in Korea during the colonization were Koreans.

Japan apologized and offered comensations.
Korea evaded the issue by blaming others for everyting.

It is true that they have not face up to the facts: You mean Japan right?
—No, Korea has not faced up to the fact I mentioned.

It is true that N Korea has not given an full account of other Japanese abducted: And you base this assertion on what?
—My assertion is based on the fact the reports N Korean gave to Japan were inconsistent and Nk has not answered the questions.

Stop playing the victim card, and Japan and Korea, north or south, can move on.

LB

You’re wasting your breath Ponta. When the other side says:

“Japan never apologized because the Japanese government never apologized, only the Prime Minister in his position as the head of the Japanese government apologized”

“Japan never paid compensation because the treaty they signed with the legitimate government of (country X) and the compensation paid to that government were paid to the corrupt and dictatorial government of that time, and that invalidates everything”

There is no point continuing the discussion. You should just bang your head into a brick wall as hard as you can. It is less painful, and more productive, in the long run.
ponta

BTW　For your reference as the number of comfort women　during the colonization.

Hata has estimated there were up to 20,000 “comfort women,” while Yoshimi says the figure was between 50,000 and over 200,000.（Japan　Times　 March 20, 2007）

As for the comfort women after the colonization.

In October 1947 before the US military abolished the official system of prostitution, the number of “official prostitutes” were 2124.
In October 1948, the number of prostitutes had increased as much as 50000 or more .
After Korean War, the number of prostitutes was more than 300000. （OhmyNews(2002-02-26)

And as you know it not uncommon to see the news that
Koreans women were trafficked to the US as prostitutes now. And N Korean women are exploited as prostitutes in China.

A

“Japan apologized to Korea
—Korea has no intention to accept apologoes, because she wants to use the victim card..”

Thats another typical strategy used by Japanese nationalists. That the victim is playing the victim card. In Koreas case, they have every right to play the victim card mainly because *gasp* THEY ARE THE VICTIMS. It doesnt take a genius to figure that out. Maybe you dont realize how the world works. If a crime is committed the victim isnt forced to accept the aggressors apology. Especially when the apology is flimsy, poorly worded and likely contradicted moments later. You have to wonder why asian and western media alike criticize Japan over its apologies.
====
“—It is none of our business how stupid Korean leader at the time were.”

There you go again with the “compensation” solves everything BS. As if paying money to a military dictator who wasnt democratically elected somehow ended the issue. It didnt, get a clue.
====
“My point is that Koreans should face up to the fact.”

You just shot yourself in the foot. Most Koreans are aware of “some” Koreans fighting for the Japanese. They have a term for that. I think its called being a “traitor”. There is no need for Koreans to face this fact considering that most of them are aware of it. Are you telling me that stuff like this isnt in their textbooks? I bet youre the kind of person who believes those subway pictures are a daily occurance in Korea. I remeber when those subway pictures first came out and Japanese nationals were crying bloody murder. It was hysterical. And mind telling me why you brought up the “some Koreans fought with the Japanese” argument again? Its apparent that youre trying to shift all blame to Korea. Funny that youre doing the exact same thing youre accusing Koreans of.
====
“I forgot to mention the fact most of agents in Korea during the colonization were Koreans.”

Even if this was true(and its not) guess who organized the entire thing and guess who exploited the comfort women. And guess who were the primary customers? Oh thats right the Japanese. And one the issue of comfort women. Dont you find it odd that its the rest of the worlds word vs Japans word on this issue. Dont you find it quite odd that most of the worlds media and human rights organizations are siding with Korea on the comfort women issue. Are you telling me that the world is wrong and Japan is right? Dont you find that odd.

Especially when Japan has a proven track record of A. Lieing about history, B. Being oblivious of history, C. Being plagued with right wing pseudo historians, D. Denying anything that brings shame?
====
“Japan apologized and offered comensations.”

No government apology as of yet. And compensations to a military dictator. And one more thing. An apology isnt suppose to end the issue. The purpose of an apology is to show remorse and willingless to look back and cooperate with the victims. Japans view of apology on the other hand is that giving one somehow ends the issue entirely. The same goes for compensation. Which is sad. Paying a military dictator and worshipping warcriminals while giving out pseudo apologies doesnt really help Japans case.
====
“Korea evaded the issue by blaming others for everyting.”

By everything you mean Japan right? Well heres some news for you. Japan is entirely to blame. It doesnt take a genius to figure that out.
====
“No, Korea has not faced up to the fact I mentioned.”

What issues do you speak of?

LOD

Japan is entirely to blame. It doesnt take a genius to figure that out.

Thank you for showing us the typical ultra-nationalistic Korean nonsence.

concerned Filipino

And thank you for showing us the typical response to two sentences in an 8-paragraph comment.

A

“Japan never apologized because the Japanese government never apologized, only the Prime Minister in his position as the head of the Japanese government apologized”

It was the Japanese government who was responsible for the atrocities. People want the Japanese government to apology. A personal apology(not a diet bill) by the Prime Minister doesnt amount to much considering that its a “persona” apology rather than a “government” apology.
====
“Japan never paid compensation because the treaty they signed with the legitimate government of (country X) and the compensation paid to that government were paid to the corrupt and dictatorial government of that time, and that invalidates everything”

Thank you for proving my point to ponta. That point being that a lot of Japanese nationalists believe that compensation somehow ends the issue entirely. It doesnt. Compensation is merely the first step in acknowledging guilt. Whats the point of a compensation when you payed a military dictator who wasnt elected by the people? It doesnt make any sense. Yes it does have legal precedence but as a symbolic gesture it fails miserably and it wont win over any hearts.

http://www.japanprobe.com James

When Japan was normalizing relations with South Korea and paying compensation it had to deal with the government that existed in South Korea at that time. There is no way that Japan’s leadership could have anticipated that South Korea would eventually become a democracy, so they paid the $800 million in compensation to the South Korean government that ruled South Korea at the time of the normalization treaty. Under the agreement, South Korea’s leadership took responsibility for distributing the money to victims of Japanese imperialism, and all legal claims for compensation against Japan were dropped.

Numerous government apologizes have been given (many officially released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and signed by Prime Ministers – not mere “personal” apologies), and hundreds of millions in compensation were paid. If South Koreans are angry about not seeing any of that compensation money, they should hold those who ruled their country in the 1960′s (and the successive leaders who covered up the truth about the compensation money) accountable for the lost money.

http://chirimotsumoreba.net shazzb0t

And thats all there really is to say about that.

ponta

JAPAN ISSUED SEVERAL　APOLOGIOIES　TO KOREA.

JAPAN COMPENSATED TO KOREA.

JAPAN ISSUED SEVERAL APOLOGIES and OFFERED COMPENSATION TO THE FORMER COMFORT WOMEN.

Thank you for proving my point A. Some ultra nationalistic Koreans will never accept Japan’s apology as apology, compensations as compensations and keep trying to justify the abductions and keep playing the victim card.

An excerpt from “Under the black umbrella(page 5)

The reader will notice that some lives are presented as full chapters and some are reflected in vignettes on a topic. This system developed because many people, it turned out, lived ordinary lives. Interview after interview began with sentences such as, “Nothing much happened to me. The Japanese people were not bad. We got along. It was the police that bothered us. I just stayed out of their way. .”

It is very strange that Koreans born after the colonization, after the compensations were made to Korea, should keep playing the victim card.
But it is natural that they should do so if they are brainwashed by ultranationalistic education .

For your information

In 1943,when the total population of Korea was about 2500000. more than 300000 young men voluntarily applied for the Japanese army.

It is a shame that Japan exploited Asian women during WWⅡ.
It is a shame that Korea exploited Korean sex slaves before, during and after the colonization for their people and the foreingers.

It is a shame that while Japan apologized to the sex slaves , Korea has never apologized to the sex slaves Korea exploited.

And also、 keep in mind that it is not just Japanese but South Koreans who were abducted by EVIL EMPIRE OF N KOREA.
It is a shame that Korea is too scared to save their own people from the EVIL DICTATOR of the North.

IMO, Korean nationalism is so daibolical that many of them are educated to blame and hate others, while unable to save their people , oppressing the sex slaves Korea exploited.
ponta

Apologies and compensations are for the both sides to move on.

The relation is morbid if one side demand the endless apologies and compensations.
It is more morbid if people who are promoting the demand are not the victims but younger Koreans in Korea and abroad who are infected by the ultra-nationalism or rather inferior complex in the state level.

As for WWⅡ

Some Japanese military including Koreans went on brutal.
They were tried.
Some Japanese as well as Koreans supported the war.
Some Japanese as well as Korean lived their lives to survive disregarding the politics.
Some Japanese as well as Koreans, mainly communists and anarchists, were opposed to the regime. They were oppressed.
Japanese and Koreans worked together for and against the war, albeit in an unfortunate way.
Accept the facts, accept the wrongs Japanese and Koreans did.
Get over the inferior and victim complex and look to the future.

It is the silliest to talk as if the colonization had something to do the abductions by NK.
There are more Koreans than Japanese who were kidnapped by North Korea .
We can work together to save them if only Koreans get away from “Korean-blood” that make them hold Dear Leader KJI dear.
http://chirimotsumoreba.net Jordan

What do you suggest Japan provide as far as complete compensation (besides yen of course) and a complete apology are concerned?

I see a lot of vague complaints about how Japan should pay and atone for what it has been done, yet nothing in the way of exactly what Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese, etc. nationalists actually want. Doesn’t that make you think just a little bit about who is pressing the buttons behind the curtain? At what point will these calls for accountability contain actionable requests and stop looking like the same old anti-Japanese-nationalism-as-domestic-pressure-relief policies they almost always are?
ponta

No, apologies and compensations are a form of repentance and acknowledgment of guilt

I agree.

hey are not aimed at ending the issue.

Yes they are.

How would you like it if North Korea decides to just nuke Japan back to the stone age just for the heck of it. And then offers a half arsed apology.

Japan has got no apology for the nuke on civilians, but Japan and the USA are getting well.

I noticed that not only do the Japanese not know what an apology is.

It is most likely that some Korean nationalists do not know what apologies are.

Well, guess whos responsible for much of Korean nationalism?

Koreans. Koreans are not stupid kids who are always the victims of the circumstance.

Korea would have no reason to hate Japan if they didn’t mistreat them so horribly during and after colonization.

It is so stupid that when people who lived during the colonization says

“Interview after interview began with sentences such as, “Nothing much happened to me. The Japanese people were not bad. We got along. It was the police that bothered us. I just stayed out of their way. .”

“I’ve overcome my hard feelings towards Japan. It’s often the younger people who are more hostile. They’ve been fed only the worst stories about the colonial period but they don’t know the reality the way we do.”http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3490835.stm

post colonial younger Koreans who have been brainwashed by nationalism act as if they were victims.

Denying horrible atrocities committed against them, worshiping the people responsible and haughty arrogant behavior does not portray Japan in a positive light.

Who denied it?
As I said, some Japanese and Koreans committed war crimes, and they were tried.
You just don’t want to admit that Japan admits the atrocities because you want to hold the victim mentality.

You spit on a persons face enough times and theyre going to hate you.

No wonder many Koreans are always angry because they imagine themselves (wrongly) being spitted.

Again and again you bring up childish irrelevant arguments to back your argument(whatever that may be).For example you brought up comfort women even though no one was talking about them.

Just　read the comment by Michael 2008-07-07 09:57:39

What is irrelevant on this thread is your talk about the colonization.
We are talking about the abduction by NK. And What is relevant is that NK abducted more South Korean than Japanese, and yet you are spitting on the South Korean abductee by derailing the talk, by refusing working together to save them.
Hatred, Hatred, hatred and oh hatred—what is thy ethnicity?

North Korea Kidnapped My Daughter

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