Abductee Video Smuggled to North Korea Aims for Breakthrough in Rescue Efforts

Japanese citizen Megumi Yokota was abducted by North Korean agents at the age of 13. Now 59, she has yet to be returned to Japan. On August 13, it was revealed that an organization dedicated to securing the return of abductees is working to send a film about Yokota's abduction to North Korea. 

Using Film to Spread Awareness

The Investigation Commission on Missing Japanese Probably Related to North Korea (COMJAN) hopes this initiative will lead to a breakthrough in the return of abductees. Foreign media, such as South Korean dramas, are known to have a significant impact on how North Koreans view the outside world.

The film compiled by COMJAN includes the Japanese feature film The Pledge to Megumi (2021) and photos of 530 individuals believed to have been abducted by North Korea. With Korean subtitles, the film features profiles of each abductee. It also offers financial incentives for anyone who can provide relevant information. 

The video data has been handed over to a South Korean defector organization known for its extensive network inside North Korea. According to the group, the video has already reached several people within the country.

Impact of Foreign Media

In North Korea, foreign media such as South Korean dramas spread quickly as locals copy and share the content via USB drives, according to defector testimonies. This exposure has increased admiration for South Korea and fueled criticism of Kim Jong Un's regime among the population.

In response, Kim's government passed a law in 2020 that imposes harsh penalties for distributing foreign media. This includes the death penalty. Public executions are often used to enforce this law and instill fear to prevent the spread of foreign content.

Since 2005, COMJAN has been broadcasting a shortwave radio program called Shiokaze (Sea Breeze) to deliver information to abductees and North Korean residents. However, the broadcasts are frequently disrupted by jamming from North Korean authorities. Securing stable funding remains another challenge. If new initiatives using video successfully reach North Korea, they could become a powerful tool for appealing directly to its residents.

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(Read the article in Japanese.)

Author: Norio Sakurai, The Sankei Shimbun