[imText1]Kang Chul Hwan, co-representative of Democracy Network against North Korean Gulags said, “Kim Young Nam’s claim that Yokota Megumi died is very likely entirely false”.
On the 1st of June, he revealed during a broadcast on Free North Korea Broadcasting (FreeNK) that, “Megumi would be one of the most competent students in North Korea if she was selected to work as an espionage agent against the South. If she had a mental problem, she would not even be able to work as a Japanese teacher in the agency against the South”.
He claimed that, “Megumi was not taken to a prison at which people were severely oppressed or tortured, nor did she suffer from malnutrition because of the abundance of food provided”, and said, “Absolutely, she could have been in shock after the abduction. Yet the abundant food and the happy family that North Korea provided for her would have off-set her shock somewhat”.
He also pointed out that, “The problem is that if Megumi had been revealed as being alive, then many people in North Korea working as agents against the South would have potentially been uncovered as well. It’s obvious that from the very beginning, Kim Jong Il had the intention of covering for all other agents by asserting that Megumi had died”.
Representative Kang pointed out, “North Korea should provide sound proof of Megumi’s death – hospital documents proving she was treated at a metal hospital, or pictures showing that she was at the verge of death. I believe that her family should be able to at least provide pictures”.
In addition, he revealed that, “The reason why North Korea allowed Kim Young Nam to reunite with his family in South Korea is likely that it was worried that international society would stop sending aid, and that if a Korea-Japan coalition for Abductees is formed, it would apply pressure, resulting in a situation that North Korea is not capable of dealing with”.
“Now North Korea is trying to assert that the abduction problem surrounding Kim Young Nam and Megumi has been put to rest with this reunion, which is becoming a symbol of Korea-Japan Abductees”.
At the same time, he criticized that, “However, Kim Jong Il’s insinuations that the issue has been resolved has enraged South Korean people who feel they’ve been deceived. Despite the specific proof that he was abducted by North Korean agents, Kim Young Nam told what most Koreans consider to be an outright lie, saying that he drifted into the middle of the ocean and was rescued by a North Korean ship”.
He also emphasized that, “If the North Korean ship really had rescused him from the ocean, it could have sent him to South Korea though the Red Cross Society”, and that “As he rose to a high-level position usually reserved for elites, it is clear that he was abducted to be trained as an agent to educate junior agents against the South”.
On the other hand, regarding Eun Kyung (Hae Kyung), Megumi’s daughter, he said that, “I interpret from her unhappy expression that there is something being hidden about her mother. A press conference for Kim Young Nam should be held at a location in which he can speak freely”.
Lastly, he added, “The most important thing would be to listen to Eun Kyung, because in her yearning for her mother, we would be able to understand what the truth is”.
