Clarifying the whole

拉致事件の真相解明を

The abductees' families, however, are understandably dissatisfied with the findings, which leave many questions unanswered. The government should make every effort to arrange relatives' visits to North Korea and the early return home of surviving abductees and their families. At the same time, it should continue its investigation in order to find out the whole truth about these state-organized kidnappings. Another fact-finding mission must be sent to North Korea.

According to the mission's report to relatives, a summary of which was released at a press conference, the group met five survivors who had been named by North Korea at the Sept. 17 summit meeting in Pyongyang between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. The report says that, judging from their physical features and other characteristics, "it can be reasonably concluded that they are the same persons" as those identified by North Korea at the summit.

As for eight other abductees listed as dead by North Korea, Pyongyang reiterated essentially what it claimed at the summit: that they died from "illnesses and disasters," and had not been victims of foul play. This time around, however, it gave more detailed explanations, saying that two of them died from gas poisoning, another two from traffic accidents, and the rest from mental illness (resulting in suicide), a liver ailment, heart disease and drowning.

But little evidence was produced to confirm their deaths. Most of their graves and remains, Pyongyang claimed, had been washed away in massive floods. And no credible explanation was given to back the North Korean claim that they had died relatively young, not long after they were kidnapped.

The government says, with good reason, that it is too early to draw conclusions on their deaths. It should first analyze the results of the mission's investigation in detail and then make further probes, including DNA testing. Obtaining North Korean cooperation is considered difficult given legal limitations. Police participation in the investigation should be considered.

The abduction issue looms as a major obstacle to the normalization of Japan-North Korea relations. Clearing the hurdle is a top diplomatic priority for Prime Minister Koizumi, who on Monday reshuffled the Cabinet to bolster his leadership. Normalization talks are expected to resume later this month, as agreed at the summit.

The Japanese public is outraged that Pyongyang's special agents abducted innocent citizens from Japan and elsewhere to serve their covert purposes. Indeed, the reaction has been so strong that had Japan maintained diplomatic relations with North Korea, this issue would likely have led Tokyo to sever ties. But, despite the brutality of the abductions, confronting North Korea is not the answer. To resolve the issue Japan has no choice but to sustain dialogue with and seek cooperation from North Korea. Mr. Koizumi is right to pursue a solution in the course of normalization talks.

The relatives worry, however, that a solution will be postponed if the talks are resumed without a more detailed investigation. They are distrustful of the government, blaming it for leaving the issue on the back burner for years. The feelings of the families must be fully respected in dealing with the problem. If no significant progress is made in this regard during the normalization talks, diplomacy toward North Korea will lose the support of the families as well as the public at large.

Mr. Koizumi's surprise visit to Pyongyang has received a positive reception both here and abroad; it is seen to have opened a new vista of possibility for achieving stability in Northeast Asia. The trip may have contributed to the U.S. decision to send Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly to Pyongyang on Thursday. It can be expected that a further improvement in Japan-North Korea relations will help to improve Pyongyang's ties with Washington and Seoul as well.

It must not be forgotten, however, that the abduction issue represents a major security concern about North Korea, as does the suspicion that the country may be developing, or planning to develop, weapons of mass destruction. The resolution of this issue, therefore, is an indispensable condition not only for the normalization of Japan-North Korea relations but also for the stabilization of the security situation in Northeast Asia.

The Japan Times:
October 4, 2002
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      調査団は9月の日朝首脳会談で名前が挙がった生存者5人に面会、肉体的特徴などから拉致被害者本人と判断して差し支えないとの結論に達した。北朝鮮は、死亡したとされる8人の死因について「病死または事故死」と、首脳会談の時と同じ主張を繰り返した。ただし今回は、ガス中毒、交通事故、自殺、心臓病といったより詳細な情報提供があった。しかしその真偽を確認できる証拠は無きに等しい。大半の被害者の遺骨や墓は洪水で流出したとされ、若い年齢での死亡についても信ぴょう性のある説明はなかった。

      政府はDNA鑑定等を行い、警察の調査への関与を検討すべきだろう。拉致問題は日朝国交正常化の大きな障害だ。これを乗り越えることが小泉外交の最優先課題となる。

      拉致に対する日本国民の怒りは激しい。しかし北朝鮮と対立しても問題は解決しない。対話を続け、協力を求めていく必要がある。被害者家族は、綿密な調査なしに国交正常化交渉が再開された場合、拉致問題解決が先送りになる可能性を懸念している。家族の方々の感情は尊重しなくてはならない。問題解決の進展なしの北朝鮮との外交関係は国民の支持を失うことになる。

      首相の訪朝は北東アジアの安定に向けて新たな可能性を切り開いたとして国内外で評価された。日朝関係の改善は、米朝及び南北関係の改善に役立つだろう。忘れてはならないのは、拉致問題が大量破壊兵器開発疑惑と同様、北朝鮮をめぐる安全保障上の懸念だということだ。問題の解決は、国交正常化だけでなく、北東アジアの安全保障にとって必要不可欠な条件である。

The Japan Times Weekly
October 12, 2002
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