Chongryon has come to symbolize the larger problems in North Korea-Japan relations.

Also known as the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, Chongryon for many years acted as the unofficial representative for the North in Japan. In recent years the group has struggled, though, as membership has declined, Japanese nationalism has strengthened and North Korea admitted to kidnapping multiple Japanese civilians in the late 1970s and early ’80s.

This past year the group’s status took another hit, as the members of the organization were arrested for the illegal shipment of North Korean mushrooms, and Chongryon schools were denied the free tuition that other private schools in Japan were allowed. These turns have been directly connected the recent stalemate in negotiations over the North’s abductions of Japanese civilians. In the absence of progress in the North’s “investigation” into unaccounted-for detainees, Chongryon may be bearing the brunt of Japan’s disappointment.

And experts on Japan-Korea relations showed them little sympathy, citing their veneration of the North Korean leadership, and saying that the Chongryon schools depict Japan and the U.S. as the enemy.

In part 28 of a new NK News expert interview series, Japanese experts who talked to NK News included:

• Daniel Roh – Chief Executive Officer, Peninsula Monitor Group, LLC
• Junya Nishino – Associate Professor, Keio University Faculty of Law Department of Political Science
• Naoko Kumagai – Associate Professor, International University of Japan
• Satoru Miyamoto – Seigakuin University, Political Economy Department
• Toshio Miyatsuka – North Korea Research Institute, Yamanashi University, Management Department

Additional reporting: Chad O’Carroll, Emil Truszkowski

Q28) Currently Chongryon schools are excluded from free education welfare in Japan. Is the groups’ connection with the DPRK a legitimate reason for such isolation and non-support from government?

Logically speaking, there is no direct connection between the schools’ relationship with Chongryon and their exemption from public subsidies. Official subsidies and support for Chosun schools are both decided by the prefectural/local governments.

Depending on the financial status and ideological position of those governments, Chosun schools are subsidized or on their own. Yet, those schools’ behavior, especially their act of hoisting the photos of “great beloved leaders” in classrooms, provides a good excuse to exclude them, even though their curricula are not directly related to North Korea.

Logically speaking, there is no direct connection between the schools’ relationship with Chongryon and their exemption from public subsidies

Yes. If the link is found, it is a problem and such a tendency is observed in Chogryon schools’ textbooks, as pointed out by the Ministry of Education. Some contents are anti-democratic and describe America as more evil than Hitler. Also, in view of the human rights situation in North Korea, it is fair to say that any influence from the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan on schools in Japan is not desirable, but is rather to be avoided.

When the Japanese government makes decisions, however, there should be a careful examination, particularly since discrimination against Chosun (North Korean) people in Japan has been getting worse in the form of obvious hate speech against them; a bill against hate speech is still under parliamentary deliberation in the Upper House.

Such a discriminatory atmosphere unnecessarily and irresponsibly affects the mindset of ordinary Japanese, thus creating an overall wave of anti-North Korea and anti-Chongryon school public opinion. Yet many Chongryon schoolchildren are not guilty of these political/ideological rivalries. As such, any decision on subsidiaries to Chongryon schools should be neutral from the general atmosphere and be strictly judged based on objective criteria, like any other schools.

… any influence from the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan on schools in Japan is not desirable, but is rather to be avoided

The Japanese government has decided to cut funding for three reasons:

1) Japanese public opinion is very critical of North Korea because of the abduction issue;

2) North Korea is not showing any intent to resolve the abduction issue;

3) Chongryon and the North Korean government have very close relations.

Because of this, North Korean schools don’t get any funding. However, there are many voices saying that the abduction issue and school funding should be treated as two separate issues.

Japanese public opinion is very critical of North Korea because of the abduction issue

A lot has been said about this issue, so it’s hard to fit this into few sentences.

I think that the Japanese government is trying to put pressure on Chongryon, so that it helps with resolving the abduction issue.

However, it’s hard to say if it’s a good strategy.

I think that the Japanese government is trying to put pressure on Chongryon, so that it helps with resolving the abduction issue.

The reason for this is that the Chongryon leadership is loyal to the North Korean leader and the Workers’ Party of Korea.

Both Chongryon and the Workers’ Party of Korea portray Japan as an enemy and the Japanese government and Japanese people cannot support someone who is their enemy.

Featured Image: R. Cunningham