U.N. mission in Tokyo hears about N Korean abductions

Flogging a dead horse might get it to move a bit once the flesh has rotten away and only the lighter bones are left to be shifted by the whip. But what a stench waiting for the flesh to rot away!

Its not a dead horse if Japanese nationals are still in North Korean.

The funniest move by the Japanese was to consider all missing people in Japan as possible abductees by North Korea and in the process cleaning the work of all their Yakuza, average murderer citizens and suicide victims. How immature can a politician be? How hypocrite can they get? And do they think that anyone would buy into a compromise solution when that is their most 'intelligent' move?

I remember when North Korea claimed there were no abducted Japanese there. Then, suddenly abductees who were denied to have been in North Korea were sent back to Japan to visit their families under an arrangement made with Koizumi's government. Shortly after arriving in Japan, Japan correctly announced that the former abductees were not returning to North Korea. I still remember vividly my disgust at North Korea's angry reaction that they were not being returned. I have no doubt that there are more there and I think it is just and reasonable for the Japanese government and the families of the still abducted people to keep pushing for justice. You'd do the same if it were your family.

Dilligent campaigners for the return of abductees have been working tirelessly to achieve their goals. The Japanese governments, past and present, have also been consistent in bringing up the issue in summits etc. In the last decade there have been some positive results. Why, then, in the face of victim testimony and blatant lack of cooperation from the "powers that be" in NK, is this the FIRST commission to investigate human rights abuses in North Korea?

If North Korea took the same attitude as the elected representatives of Japan, it would deny that there were any abductees and all of them had been volunteers who gladly took up an offer of all inclusive paid for trip to the heaven known as north Korea.

The Japanese constant wailing about this historical crime, while trying to deny its own historical crimes, means that I, like a lot of people in Asia, have very little sympathy for the Japanese stance; although we do feel very very sorry for Megumi Yokota's parents and the others.

"...as Tokyo campaigns to publicise the kidnapping of its nationals by Pyongyang agents."

Nothing like CONSTANTLY trying to make a bilateral issue an international one while you ignore your own history.

The abductions are a good example of the warped thinking of totalitarian states. If they wanted 'Japanese language training' they could simply have advertised in Japanese newspapers for Japanese language teachers. There would always have been some adventurous young individuals who would have liked the idea of spending a couple of years in an interesting location and getting some experience. Maybe, by offering a decent salary and conditions, they could have saved some money and gained a positive impression of the North Korean people. They then return to their home country and spread the word that it wasn't all bad there. But no, the North Koreans have to kidnap them and keep them prisoners for the rest of their lives. Go figure.

& while their there maybe discuss some of Japan's transient actions in the past," oh wait because if we do that it would be'regretable' & regrettable in the future, so is all nth Koreas fault...

Its not a dead horse if Japanese nationals are still in North Korean.

IF? IF? Is "if" really all you need to keep this circus going??

Here, I will give you an "if". If there was one shred of evidence that there were abductees in Norkland held against their will I would be behind this 100 percent. But since NK confessed and let people leave, I tend to think they are no longer holding anything back even if the explanation of the others being dead is a bit fishy. But why would they keep some hidden while letting others go? No idea and no good grounds to think they did.

The kidnappings ended over 40 years ago. We are talking about a small number of people. Besides, the list Japan keeps of "potentially" abducted people has no grounds to blame North Korea anymore than say the yakuza. Its over. The politicians need to let it go because the only reason they keep it alive is for political points. I feel sorry for the families, but its over. Megumi is not coming home. There is ZERO sense spending politician's time, my tax money, and any possible good will with North Korea over this.

CalvinMontblancAug. 29, 2013 - 03:39PM JST But why would they keep some hidden while letting others go? No idea and no good grounds to think they did.

Because to North Korea the abductees are simply a negotiating tool. Not just the abductees themselves but even accurate information pertaining to them including circumstances of their death. If there abductees alive they can be traded for something in return. If the circumstances of their demise would cause anger in Japan then it would be disadvantageous to North Korea to disclose it.