by Allanah Leahy – EM TV Online
A son and brother of two Japanese nationals kidnapped by North Korean agents in the late 70s left for a UN discussion panel yesterday, seeking international support.
Koichiro Iizuka, whose mother was abducted when he was only a year old, is appealing for her immediate rescue. He plans to appeal to the international community to exert pressure on North Korea.
North Korea kidnapped 17 Japanese nationals between the years of 1977 and 1983, although possibly many more are yet to be verified by the Japanese government.
Beginning today, the UN discussion panel will investigate North Korea’s human rights abuses, with a North Korean diplomat set to attend.
The panel will involve the families of other abductees from other countries, including South Korea, which has claimed thousands of abductions.
North Korea acknowledged its’ part in the kidnappings in 2002, revealing that its’ agents kidnapped 13 Japanese to train spies in Japanese language and culture.
