Japanese abductees, families hope for resolution of issue with Kim's death

I feel terribly sorry for the people whose loved ones were kidnapped to NK. Just as I feel incredibly sorry for all the left-behind parents whose children were kidnapped back to Japan.

Would like to see the J government give equal attention to both.

Nicky, you're spot on!

Gee Nicky. One is living with one parent in a developed country while the other......

Equal attention??

My heart goes out to the parents of the abducted children but after 30-plus years do you honestly believe the government is going to address any further? If my kid had been abducted by any country I would have waited 5 minutes and then go over there myself.

Sorry resolve your own issues first and set an example to NK

I also feel very sorry for these people, and for the families of those who have been kidnapped and whose children remain missing. Now that they have voiced their concerns, however, I hope they can hold on a little longer before bringing up the issue again. Once the transition of power has been made and the new Kim is gauged for how he'll lead I think it'll be safe to bring up the issue. As it is, if the Japanese government, no behalf of the abductees and their kind, press the issue to strongly it could start things off on a more sour note than they would otherwise, and then they'll be ZERO hope of the issue being resolved.

Patrick,

Half a million Koreans abducted??? How exactly was Japan able to accomplish that??? Were these people abducted at gunpoint? I sure like to know because this is news to me.

PSmash

Home run! Nailed it!

Many in Japan view the secretive regime with open hostility, a state worsened by the abductions in the 1970s and 1980s of a number of Japanese citizens press-ganged into training Pyongyang’s spies in the country’s language and customs

It always amazes me how Japanese can get wound up about the above(understandably so!), but utterly fail to understand its own abducting children of the world & have even less comprehension of the 20-30million it killed 1930-45 & the many that survived the horrors of Japans rampage back then.

Nicky & Patric,

all the left-behind parents whose children were kidnapped back to Japan.

there were over half a million Koreans abducted

I didn't know so many Korean children were abducted by Japanese. Will you tell me more in detail? I would like to know about it. (I'm not accusing you or anything. I just want to know.)

GW-

It always amazes me how Japanese can get wound up about the above(understandably so!), but utterly fail to understand its own abducting children of the world & have even less comprehension of the 20-30million it killed 1930-45 & the many that survived the horrors of Japans rampage back then.

It amazes me, too. But lately I've been thinking the two feelings (denial and passion) both are connected somehow. It's like the utter shame of the war crimes have somehow created this collective guilt and identity vacuum, which in turn is projected in their hatred of North Korea (along with a simmering animosity towards South Korea and China.)

Is there really any proof that there are abducts there any more?

So tired of the pity party Japan throws about this. Perhaps Japan could address the current kidnap issues AND the kidnap issues form WWII instead of just focusing on the handful in NK? Would be more balanced and fair this way.

I'm afraid as long this this Kim Jong-Un kid is in charge ( and I find it incredulous that the North Korean military will actually take orders from this kid ), there will be no progress on ( shedding of light ) on the abductees, or progress on much else.

And of course this story gets pushed by the media outlets and the earlier comments by Clinton about Japanese abduction of US children will once again get swept under the carpet.

soldave: "And of course this story gets pushed by the media outlets and the earlier comments by Clinton about Japanese abduction of US children will once again get swept under the carpet."

It's Japan, my friend! Pat yourself on the shoulder for being a victim and conveniently forget about victimizing others (or better yet, spin your atrocities to make it look like you had no choice and are the victim!).

And of course this story gets pushed by the media outlets and the earlier comments by Clinton about Japanese abduction of US children will once again get swept under the carpet.

Perhaps it has something to do with the the same reason that the U.S Media outlets don't report the NK abduction (i.e. swept under the carpet)

Why didnt those abductees' family goes to North Korea and ask for a clue by their owm! They have been used by japanese media as headlines voluntarily and they just love faking their victimhood!

Japan freaking out more than South Koreans, Chinese or the US is frankly very amusing to me.

Does these 'abductees' ever born to this world or they were just illusions?

nigleboy - Also due to the fact that in the NK abduction they are neither the perpetrators nor the victims. Japan is both.

smithinjapan - Yup, it's the way things go.

nigelboyDec. 20, 2011 - 08:50AM JST Gee Nicky. One is living with one parent in a developed country while the other...... Equal attention??

Got to agree with you Nigel. There is no relationship between the two. People have been kidnapped to North Korea, but how can you use the same word " kidnap " to a parent's own flesh and blood child ?

We have already ruled on this point. The issues are separate.