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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Ruffian who wrote (251637)	12/18/2007 9:07:18 AM
From: Lou Weed	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

you gotta be very wary of the old Taepo Dong.....can't blame them for being proactive.

To: Ruffian who wrote (251637)	3/6/2008 1:51:30 PM
From: Peter Dierks	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

When Will North Korea Return Our Abductees? By KYOKO NAKAYAMA March 6, 2008 TOKYO, Japan The six-party talks have stalled, and so, too, has the issue dear to Japanese people's hearts: the rescue of our country's abductees in North Korea. To date, the Japanese government has recognized 17 Japanese nationals as victims of abduction by North Korea from the late 1970s through the early 1980s. Among these abductees, five were returned to Japan in 2002 after the summit meeting between then-Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and North Korea's Chairman Kim Jong Il. Of the remaining 12, however, North Korea claims that eight have died and four have never entered its territory. But the North Korean government has never provided sufficient evidence to back up such claims. This issue is a serious transgression of our citizens' human rights. The abductees were taken from their homeland by force or deception, and remain deprived of every freedom under the surveillance of North Korean authorities. The international community understands the urgency of resolving this situation. Last December, the United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution calling for the protection of human rights in North Korea, included a clause calling for the immediate return of abductees. Meanwhile, family members of North Korean abductees and their supporters in Japan, South Korea, the United States, Thailand and Romania have strengthened their solidarity, and launched an international coalition group last December. Japanese nationals remain very concerned about the abduction issue. According to a recent government public opinion poll 89% of the Japanese public believe the abduction issue is the primary concern governing our country's overall relations with North Korea. Given this, it's clear that the abduction issue is a national challenge -- one that the Japanese government cannot leave unresolved. Last December, our Parliament passed a resolution which asked the U.S. to exercise prudence when considering the removal of North Korea from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, with the aim of maintaining the incentive for North Korea to release the abductees. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's government, appointed last September, sincerely wishes to break the impasse over the abduction issue and improve Japan-North Korea relations. Despite the thirst for dialogue, we managed to hold only two bilateral meetings on the abduction issue last year (in March and September) and have failed to produce concrete progress. The Japanese government is hoping in earnest to expand opportunities for direct talks, to deepen mutual trust and understanding, and to make a breakthrough in the current deadlock. Resolving the abduction issue and other humanitarian concerns appropriately will be a touchstone for North Korea in building normal relations with the international community. At the same time, finding a solution to the abduction issue is an essential step in opening the frozen door between Japan and North Korea and bringing new opportunities and mutual benefits. It is our sincere hope that North Korea shares these views, reopens direct dialogues with Japan, and takes concrete and prompt actions to resolve the abduction issue. Ms. Nakayama is special advisor to the Japanese prime minister for the abduction issue. online.wsj.com