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Choi Gye-wol, left, mother of S. Korean abductee Kim Young-nam, and Young-ja, elder syster of the abductee, wipe away tears during a June 6 press conference in Seoul on the proposed family reunion. Lee Jong-geun
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Mother-son meeting may snarl Japan’s N.K. policy
North Korea has agreed to allow Kim Young-nam, who was abducted from South Korea in 1978, to meet his mother, a move which the Japanese government and an association of the families of abductees worry is meant to soften Japan’s stance on resolving the issue of its kidnapped citizens. Japan, which has vowed to join forces with South Korea in the abduction issue, sees the North’s move as part of intentions to block the collaboration between the two countries on the matter. Mr. Kim’s mother, Choi Gye-wol, and the association of abductees’ families are deeply divided over the value of Ms. Choi’s visit to North Korea. Ms. Choi is, understandably, overwhelmed at the chance of seeing her son again; families of other abductees fear the reunion is a token gesture by the North, never to be repeated, leaving their separated family members in limbo. Several lingering mysteries may be cleared up with the reunion. North Korea has claimed that the husband of Megumi Yokota, abducted from Japan in 1977, is a Korean named Kim Cheol-joon. DNA tests on Megumi’s daughter, who is still in the North but met with Japanese officials in 2002, confirmed that the father is most likely Kim Young-sam. Both South Korea and Japan are still waiting for North Korea’s explanation on the matter, as well as whether Ms. Megumi has died, as the North has claimed. Pyongyang sent remains back to the Megumi family in 2004, but testing by Japan revealed they were not her remains but the combined remains of two other unidentified people. However, in yet another twist to the case, the U.S. scientific journal Nature questioned the accuracy of the methods used as well as the qualifications of the scientist who performed the tests, throwing new doubt on the true whereabouts of Ms. Megumi.Japan is also concerned that events at the reunion may color them in a bad light. Japan has insisted that North Korea has been lying about Ms. Megumi’s death, but if Kim Young-nam declares at the reunion that he was, in fact, her husband and that she has died, Japan will have to eat its words. Moreover, there is a growing possibility that, following a successful reunion, Ms. Megumi’s parents, who have so far refused to visit North Korea, may change their mind and meet their granddaughter in North Korea and directly confirm whether their daughter is dead. If these events transpire, Japan’s current hard-line policy on North Korea, pushed by its conservative administration and the association of abductees’ families, will be thrown into question, observers say. An official at the Japanese government said, “Though the Japanese government won’t revise its strategy soon, it is clear that [Japan’s policy toward the North] is in trouble.” Ms. Megumi’s father, Shigeru Yokota, 73, has been wary of Ms. Choi’s visit to North Korea because it may be exploited by the North Korean authorities, he has said. After hearing today’s news of a planned family reunion between Kim and Choi, Mr. Shigeru declined to comment, saying, “I have nothing to say.” The association of abductees’ families issued a statement following the announcement of the planned reunion, saying, “North Korea must admit to all abduction cases and send all abductees home.” The association said the abduction issue will not be resolved, even if several reunions take place under the eyes of the North Korean authorities.
