N Korea, Japan to meet in Sweden with focus on abductees

I find it odd you take no stock in anything NK says, but place stock in what a defector says.

What is odd? As far as I know, the defector has not been shown to be lying. NK has many, many times.

Smith has a good point that promises were made to NK then promptly broken

The one 'broken promise' that caused NK to pull away from the ongoing talks at the time was the fact that the abductees stayed in Japan instead of going back to NK as was originally agreed. However, I think it is very reasonable that abducted people did not want to go back to the country that abducted them and that Japan did not want them to, either.

I guess we just can't believe anything anybody says.

No, sorry. I will never understand the need on the part of some people to attempt to equivocate NK to Japan. They are nothing alike and, in this case, it is NK that is in the wrong.

In 2011, a North Korean defector suggested that Megumi Yokota was still alive. NK has lied through most, if not all, of their history.

I find it odd you take no stock in anything NK says, but place stock in what a defector says.

Smith has a good point that promises were made to NK then promptly broken. NK lies, sure. But NK can honestly say that Japan lies too. I guess we just can't believe anything anybody says.

you still demand NK own up to the past for a mere few people while defending Japan for denying the massacre and rape of THOUSANDS.

When did I ever defend Japan for denying any massacre?

Everything else should, in the words of people like yourself, "be forgotten and move on already".

When did I ever write 'be forgotten and move on already'? Why would you write something I have never said? You should apologize for suggesting I have written things I have never done and for suggesting I hold positions that I do not hold. Why can't you deal with the person in front of your keyboard instead of making up a character to debate?

In 2011, a North Korean defector suggested that Megumi Yokota was still alive. NK has lied through most, if not all, of their history. This is especially true of the abductee issue.

You want it one way, and one way only.

When it comes to NK, they are wrong. There is only one way. You want to discuss WWII history involving other countries? Fine. Do it in an article that is about that subject with something that is discussing that subject. However, there is nothing to defend NK and their violence, missile attacks and abductions.

It's a shame they don't act up to it.

Yes, it is. But, this has nothing to do with me. Why do you keep suggesting it does? With absolutely no evidence, by the way?

You, on the other hand, you claiming jokingly, but I am not convinced have said Japanese should just give up and forget the abductions. It seemed insensitive when you wrote it and it does now, too. The Yokotas have nothing to do with what Japan did in WWII and your seeming to suggest they are connected and these abductions are some kind of retribution is rather distasteful.

slumdog: "Absolutely no way. NK abducted people."

Yup, and aside from the fact that many abducted listed end up turning up in Japan after having run away from responsibility, you still demand NK own up to the past for a mere few people while defending Japan for denying the massacre and rape of THOUSANDS.

"However, this is about NK and this article is about NK. "

Dude, the article is about Japan and NK dealings, not just about the NK, and you therefore prove EVERYTHING I said. You want it one way, and one way only.

"I believe Japan has and should continue to apologize for crimes it committed in the past."

Good on you. It's a shame they don't act up to it. Saying "It is regwettable that, chortle, some things happened... but... ummmm... we gave Taiwan modern education.... and uh.... they like us.... so... uh..." isn't really saying much, my friend. They should make a sincere apology. Instead you have Abe wanted to take away apologies of the past, in the name of his war-criminal gran-pappy.

Glad there is Sweden in the world.

Sorry to say but this will be about what a am can get from Japan and not about what Japan hopes for. Chalk this one up as a nice vacation .

It's as much Japan to blame as NK.

Absolutely no way. NK abducted people. . NK complained and refused to continue the talks when the 5 abductees that were allowed to 'visit' their own country, Japan, decided to stay in Japan.

in the words of people like yourself

My words? Show me where I have ever written anything like this or take it back and apologize.

Or is this yet another one-way street?

I believe Japan has and should continue to apologize for crimes it committed in the past. I have never written anything to indicate otherwise. However, this is about NK and this article is about NK. So, let's stick with talking about NK. Okay?

CokeBill: "The only party to blame in this case is the North Korean government."

Sorry, but no. The North Korean government definitely takes the lion's share of the blame, but not all -- the remainder goes to the wingers in Japan. Koizumi shook hands with Kim Jong-Il and promised to lift sanctions and get along with the return of the ten (if only for a short time, despite them staying), and when he got back there was a media storm and upcoming vote that saw him instead threaten further sanctions and further vilify NK instead of living up to his promise. It's as much Japan to blame as NK.

slumdog: "Really? Given NK's track record of lying for decades about the five that eventually came back, it is quite easy that they have not come completely clean."

Pot meet kettle. This is about the only historical issue Japan wants honesty to take the forefront. Everything else should, in the words of people like yourself, "be forgotten and move on already". How about this: Japan admit to the rape of Nanjing, sex slaves, and other massacres and apologize, in exchange for more info on the purportedly abducted? Or is this yet another one-way street?

You guys are right about the living abductees not being freed, but they were still admitted to and allowed to leave the country at least to visit.

Yeah. Wasn't that just sweet of NK to finally admit after decades of denial that they had abducted people from Japan? Also, wasn't it nice of them to let the abductees visit their own country for 10 days? Wasn't so kind of NK to break up talks when the abductees decided that they wanted to stay with their families in Japan instead of being forced back to NK, the country that had abducted them in the first place?

Its hard to imagine they came clean to that degree but are still withholding info on Megumi.

Really? Given NK's track record of lying for decades about the five that eventually came back, it is quite easy that they have not come completely clean.

There are 13 people on Japan's list of people Japan says were abducted by NK. One of which, NK refuses to even discuss.

Google "DNA test ashes"

Point taken. I had forgotten about the Nature article. However, you are aware that DNA in teeth can survive cremation, depending on how the cremation was done. Since there is nothing left of the samples, which were small anyway, one cannot say either way.

At the same time, you have nothing solid on which to accuse them of lying.

Simply, NK's record of lying surpasses their record of telling the truth and the lies were told for much longer periods of time.

You guys are right about the living abductees not being freed, but they were still admitted to and allowed to leave the country at least to visit. Its hard to imagine they came clean to that degree but are still withholding info on Megumi.

They claimed they were sending back Megumi's remains and sent back a mixture or at least two other people's remains.

Google "DNA test ashes" and please figure this out. It cannot be done. The DNA found in the ashes belonged to people who handled the ashes.

You guys want NK to prove what would be totally unprovable if they are telling the truth. At the same time, you have nothing solid on which to accuse them of lying.

@cats and dogs: As I recall, those abductees were not freed but sent to Japan to visit their relatives but under condition that they return to NK. When the time came for them to return the Japanese Govt. refused to let them go back. My personal opinion is that Megumi had a higher position with the NK Govt. and was privy to information that the other abductees were not. The Japanese Govt. has a moral responsibly to close this out. If the Japanese Govt. believes the North Korean Govt. is telling the truth then they should tell these families that your relatives are dead and there is nothing we can do and stop giving these families false hope and keep putting them through this emotional torture.

You do realize that NK freed living abductees?

You do realize that NK did not free the living abductees, right? They were allowed to 'visit Japan for 10 days' and were required to go back to NK. They dutifully wore their NK pins and did what they were told for the beginning of their trip back. Then the Japanese government told NK to stuff it, that the abductees wanted to stay in Japan and were staying. NK threw up quite a fuss about Japan stealing their people (you know, the very people NK abducted). Before admitting to having abducted the abductees that came back to Japan, NK denied their existence in NK. They did this for a very long time.

why do you think they are lying about Megumi?

The above NK actions are why. They claimed they were sending back Megumi's remains and sent back a mixture or at least two other people's remains. NK have not shown any reason to believe they can be trusted to tell the truth. Lying about abducting people, then finally admitting it after decades, then letting them visit Japan and getting angry when they wanted to stay are they reasons why it is natural to be suspicious of NK.

I hope Megumi's parents get the truth they deserve, whatever that truth may actually mean. They deserve it.

I am A swede and when i saw this article I was like :O........ So Sweden is on Neutral Terms with N Korea hu......

japan4life, what makes you so sure they did not get the truth?

You do realize that NK freed living abductees? After admitting it to the point of freeing abductees, why do you think they are lying about Megumi?

I hope that they can resolve all the issues and hope one day we all can move on and no more blame games. Good luck to all parties!

@cats and dogs: it is your right to believe the North Korean Government on this issue if you choose. I only hope Mr. & Mrs. Yokota and other family members will eventually learn the truth about their loved ones ,no matter what it is,before they die. It would be a real tragedy if they don't.

A long way to drag a dead horse just to beat it.

can't produce any remains.

Japan was given ashes and promptly contaminated them and handed them to an incompetent in a lab coat to do DNA tests.

The only party to blame in this case is the North Korean government. They did it and they still refuse to give an honest account open to scrutiny. I too feel for Yokotas, but North Korea is a dishonest partner in this and expecting anything from them is a futile exercise.

Hopefully the Yokotas will be given some degree of closure on this issue in the near future, but I somehow doubt that will ever happen.

Hopefully things will work out

Every time I see the Mr. & Mrs. Yokota on TV my heart breaks. All they want is to know is what happened to their daughter. The North Koreans admitted they abducted her but claimed she committed suicide but can't produce any remains. Abe has been the worst for using this to score political points while actually doing nothing to help. All Japanese should feel a sense of shame that this has been allowed to drag on for so long. Give these poor family members some closure before they die. That is the least you can do.

I hope it helps, but I don't think it will. Needless to say, NK is not exactly the most trustworthy when it comes to revelations, and Japan, if anything IS truly revealed, will definitely not lift any sanctions because the right-wing will have a field day with said confessions. A Japanese politician that lifted sanctions upon Pyong-Yang's admittance to things related to abduction would be committing suicide. This is why, despite honest and heart-warming efforts by the Yokotas, politics will always knock them down.