A dark chapter in Japan's history has been brought back into the spotlight, as a court in Tokyo ordered North Korea to pay compensation to four Japanese settlers who were deceived and trafficked under a decades-old scheme. The victims, mostly ethnic Koreans living in Japan, had been lured with promises of education, healthcare, and employment opportunities, only to find themselves trapped in a living hell of forced labor and human rights abuses.
For 17-year-old Eiko Kawasaki, the journey began in 1960, when she boarded a ship bound for North Korea, seeking a better life. Instead, she was greeted by hundreds of malnourished people covered in soot, and her dreams were shattered. Kawasaki stayed in North Korea for 43 years before defecting to Japan via China in 2003, leaving behind her adult children.
The scheme, which lasted from 1959 to 1984, targeted mostly ethnic Koreans living in Japan, with over 90,000 people recruited under false pretenses. Those who refused to cooperate were often imprisoned or forced into labor. The Japanese government, despite knowing about the scheme, turned a blind eye, and many were even involved in the recruitment process.
This week's verdict is a historic first for Japan, as it exercises its sovereignty against North Korea to recognize its malpractice. Human Rights Watch hailed the ruling as "one very important, successful example of attempts to hold North Korea accountable" for its international crimes.
The ruling comes at a time when many of the victims' families are still seeking answers and justice. Kawasaki's daughters and children were left behind in North Korea, with no contact since the regime sealed the country's borders during the Covid-19 pandemic. "I don't even know if they are still alive," she said, her emotions overwhelmed.
The compensation payment of at least 20m yen (£94,000) per person is a small victory for the victims and their families, but it may not be enough to make up for the decades of suffering and hardship they endured. The most realistic option to retrieve the money was to confiscate North Korean assets and property in Japan, as Kenji Fukuda, one of the lawyers representing the plaintiffs, noted.
The ruling sends a message that Japan will no longer tolerate its citizens being exploited by foreign governments. It is a step towards justice for the victims and their families, but it also highlights the need for greater accountability from those responsible for this heinous crime.
For 17-year-old Eiko Kawasaki, the journey began in 1960, when she boarded a ship bound for North Korea, seeking a better life. Instead, she was greeted by hundreds of malnourished people covered in soot, and her dreams were shattered. Kawasaki stayed in North Korea for 43 years before defecting to Japan via China in 2003, leaving behind her adult children.
The scheme, which lasted from 1959 to 1984, targeted mostly ethnic Koreans living in Japan, with over 90,000 people recruited under false pretenses. Those who refused to cooperate were often imprisoned or forced into labor. The Japanese government, despite knowing about the scheme, turned a blind eye, and many were even involved in the recruitment process.
This week's verdict is a historic first for Japan, as it exercises its sovereignty against North Korea to recognize its malpractice. Human Rights Watch hailed the ruling as "one very important, successful example of attempts to hold North Korea accountable" for its international crimes.
The ruling comes at a time when many of the victims' families are still seeking answers and justice. Kawasaki's daughters and children were left behind in North Korea, with no contact since the regime sealed the country's borders during the Covid-19 pandemic. "I don't even know if they are still alive," she said, her emotions overwhelmed.
The compensation payment of at least 20m yen (£94,000) per person is a small victory for the victims and their families, but it may not be enough to make up for the decades of suffering and hardship they endured. The most realistic option to retrieve the money was to confiscate North Korean assets and property in Japan, as Kenji Fukuda, one of the lawyers representing the plaintiffs, noted.
The ruling sends a message that Japan will no longer tolerate its citizens being exploited by foreign governments. It is a step towards justice for the victims and their families, but it also highlights the need for greater accountability from those responsible for this heinous crime.
Oh man, North Korea's got some 'splainin' to do! 43 years in captivity? That's like me saying I'm gonna "reorganize" your fridge and then taking all your food 
. On a more serious note though, this ruling is super important for Japan and its citizens. It's about time they stood up for themselves against North Korea's human rights abuses 
. And 20m yen per person? That's like winning the lottery... if you were a victim of human trafficking 
. I guess it's better than nothing, but I'd want way more than that to make up for what these people went through 
. Anyway, kudos to Japan for taking a stand and giving justice to those who deserve it 
.
Their lives were literally ruined by North Korea's scheme. And the fact that it took a court order for Japan to finally do something about it is just... 
. Like, shouldn't they have been doing this in the first place? The victims' families deserve so much more than just compensation. They should be getting full transparency and accountability from both Japan and North Korea. And what's with the 43-year wait for Eiko Kawasaki to get justice? That's just... 
. It's like, they're still stuck in this limbo where they don't know if their family members are even alive. I just wish there was a better way to make them whole again 
.
. The fact that North Korea has to pay compensation for these 43 years of suffering is just the beginning. I'm glad Human Rights Watch is recognizing Japan's efforts to hold North Korea accountable 
. But let's be real, £94k isn't exactly a fortune, especially considering what these women went through 
. The real victory lies in exposing North Korea's crimes and holding them responsible for their actions. It's also a slap in the face to those who thought Japan would never take action. Still, we have to hope that this ruling sparks bigger changes and some actual justice for the victims and their families 
! The fact that Japan is finally standing up for its own citizens who were brutally exploited by North Korea is a huge step forward 
. I mean, can you even imagine what those 4 young women went through in 1960? 43 years in captivity? It's heartbreaking 
Plus, think of all the other North Korean defectors who are out there suffering - this ruling can inspire hope for them too 
. We gotta keep pushing for more accountability and transparency from governments! 
. Sure, they didn't know all the details and might not have been actively involved, but that doesn't mean they were blameless either. I mean, come on, 90k people got recruited under false pretenses? That's a huge red flag! And what about those who refused to cooperate? Being imprisoned or forced into labor? That's some serious human rights abuse right there 
.
The thing is, this isn't just about the money; it's about acknowledging what happened and making amends. And I think that's exactly what Japan is doing here 
.
i mean, it's not like they just got left behind, some of them were forced into labor and stuff, talk about human rights abuses 
what would u do in their shoes?
Can't believe it took this long for someone to finally hold North Korea accountable for its sickening human trafficking scheme 
. 90k+ people duped and forced into labor? That's just insane! 
. It's about time they stood up for their own citizens! 
. They shoulda done this decades ago... like, yesterday 
. The fact that Eiko Kawasaki spent 43 years in North Korea without being able to see her adult children is just heartbreaking 
.
for all the victims and their families who were left to suffer 
and North Korea was held accountable 
. 20m yen is a small drop in the ocean, but it's something 
.
is a huge deal 
.
. But now, the victims' families have some answers 
and justice is finally on their side 
: if you're going to exploit people, be prepared to face consequences 
The fact that Japan knew about this scheme but didn't do anything is just shocking 
We need to learn from our history and make sure something like this never happens again... or at least that we do everything in our power to stop it 
. This ruling might be a step in the right direction, but I'm still skeptical about how much it'll really do to hold anyone accountable 
. I feel bad for Eiko Kawasaki and all the other victims who were left behind in North Korea - it's like they're still living in a nightmare 
. The fact that Japan was involved in the recruitment process is just messed up 
. This ruling is a step in the right direction, but there's still so much work to be done 
.
. The compensation payment might be a small start, but it's a reminder that even the smallest actions can add up to make a big difference