This blog is part of a summer blog series written by the McCain Institute’s Summer Junior Fellows. Stella Streeter is a junior fellow for the John McCain Freedom for Political Prisoners Initiative.
From 1977 to 1983, North Korean agents abducted 17 Japanese individuals, from mainland Japan and abroad. Almost all of them were young adults, with the youngest being just 13 years old. For decades, these Japanese citizens were presumed to be in North Korean custody, with no explanation for their disappearance. North Korea continued to deny having any involvement in the incidents.
The 17 hostages confirmed to be taken by North Korea include:
- Yutaka Kume; disappeared September 19, 1977, aged 52
- Kyoko Matsumoto: disappeared October 21, 1977, aged 29
- Megumi Yokota: disappeared November 15, 1977, aged 13
- Minoru Tanaka: disappeared June 1978, aged 28
- Yaeko Taguchi: disappeared June 1978, aged 23
- Yasushi Chimura: disappeared July 7, 1978, aged 23
- Fukie Hamamoto: disappeared July 7, 1978, aged 23
- Kaoru Hasuike: disappeared July 31, 1978, aged 20
- Yukiko Okudo: disappeared July 31, 1978, aged 22
- Hitomi Soga: disappeared August 12, 1978, aged 19
- Miyoshi Soga: disappeared August 12, 1978, aged 46
- Rumiko Masumoto: disappeared August 12, 1978, aged 23
- Shuichi Ichikawa: disappeared August 12, 1978, aged 23
- Toru Ishioka: disappeared May 1980, aged 22
- Kaoru Matsuki: disappeared May 1980, aged 26
- Tadaaki Hara: disappeared June 1980, aged 43
- Keiko Arimoto; disappeared June 1983, aged 23
Twenty years after these kidnappings took place, North Korea admitted that they were responsible for 13 of the abductions, not mentioning the other four. Of those 13 individuals, only five were claimed to be alive. The North Korean government produced eight death certificates for the others, but these were found to be falsified records. This led to further suspicion around the fates of those eight individuals, increasing pressure on North Korea.
Those five hostages were returned to Japan in 2002, with the premise that they would eventually return to North Korea. Instead of going back to Korea, they remained in Japan, creating more tension between the two nations. In 2004, the children of these hostages were also released, as well as one of their husbands.
After the successful release of these 5 hostages and their families, the Japanese government continued investigations into the 12 other abductees. North Korea continued to supply proof supposedly proving the deaths of the other hostages, but all of their evidence was proven to have been falsified.
Hitomi Soga
Hitomi Soga was a 19-year-old nurse returning from the store with her mother, Miyoshi, when they were both abducted by North Korea. They were both taken for the purpose of teaching Japanese culture and language to North Korean agents. Hitomi was separated from her mother at some point during their captivity, and Miyoshi has not been seen or heard from since.
While being held in North Korea, Hitomi met Charles Jenkins, a U.S. Army deserter and fellow hostage. The two married in 1980 and had two children during their time held hostage.
Hitomi was one of five released in 2002 as part of a deal between Japan and North Korea. Her husband and two kids were later released through a 2004 negotiation. Hitomi and her family continue to live in her childhood home on Sado Island.
Since gaining her freedom, Hitomi has continued to advocate for the release of her mother and the other abductees.
Megumi Yokota
Megumi Yokota was a 13-year-old junior high school student when she was abducted by North Korea. She was the youngest of these 17 Japanese citizens to be kidnapped and became the face of the movement to bring them home. It is believed that she was kidnapped to teach Japanese culture, customs, and language to North Korean spies training to infiltrate Japan.
Almost 20 years since she went missing, her parents were briefed on the entirety of the situation by the Japanese government, as there were no new leads. Her mother, Sakie Yokota, became one of the most notable advocates for the hostages taken by North Korea.
In 2002, North Korea admitted to kidnapping Megumi but stated that she had died by suicide in 1994. The proof of her death, supposedly her cremated remains, was given to Japan by the North Korean government, but was later proven to be falsified. This led many, including Megumi’s parents and government officials, to believe that North Korea was covering up her disappearance.
Sakie, Megumi’s mother, is currently the last living parent out of all the hostages’ families. Along with the coordination of the Japanese government, she is using this unique position to call for the immediate release of Megumi and the other hostages.
Reactions from the International Community
In 2004, the U.S. Congress passed the North Korean Human Rights Act, which aimed to aid and support to North Korean refugees. A year later, the United Nations passed a proposal condemning the systemic abductions performed by North Korea. This measure was introduced by the United Kingdom, and supported by the U.S. and Japan. U.S. support for Japanese hostages in North Korea was perpetuated by President Bush in 2006, when he met with the mother of one of the hostages.
The issue of North Korean abductions has remained a steady interest of the Japanese government and the international community, even into the present day. In contrast, North Korea continues to state that the hostage problem has already been solved in its entirety. There are currently very limited relations between Japan and North Korea due to the hostage situation, as there is concern over the safety of Japanese citizens.
The Japanese government is hopeful that recent U.S. support will bolster a campaign to free the remaining hostages held in North Korea. The current administration has continued to voice commitment in helping Japan seek a resolution on this issue, as talks continue.
The McCain Institute remains committed to its mission to free hostages by advocating for the remaining Japanese citizens still held in North Korea. These hostages have been gone too long, and it is time to bring them home. This issue is larger than any one individual and deserves to be treated as such. The McCain Institute must stand against this undemocratic practice and work with other state and nonstate actors to ensure the release of these hostages.