[imText1]Kim Young Nam, who was abducted by North Korea from Sunu Island while swimming at a beach in Gunsan one afternoon in 1978, held a press conference on the 29th.
During the press conference at Geumgangsan Hotel, Mr. Kim explained that, “During the time that I disappeared. I was having some problems with classmates at school. I went out on a small boat to think things over, but fell asleep. When I woke up, I could not see the island or the swimming beach. I tried to row back to the island, but when dawn came, I realized I was in the middle of the ocean”.
Kim said that, “After drifting for a while, I came upon a ship and signaled to them by waving my clothes. People in the ship told me to go back home with them and return back to my house later, as it would be hard to find the island right then. So I went back with them to Nampo Harbor”.
He said that, “At the time, I was so worried and afraid that I was unable to eat for a few days. However, as I became friends with the North Korean people, I gained a sense of security. I heard that I could go to school, and thought that after studying here, I could go back to my hometown. It took me 28 years”.
In regard to his wife, he said “Megumi attempted to kill herself a few times, but I don’t want to talk about it in detail. She killed herself on April 13, 1994”.
Mr. Kim added that, “Megumi said that she received an injury to the head when she was a child, and therefore she would not be a successful wife or mother due to the subsequent mental problems she experienced after the injury. She was sent to a special mental hospital, but it turned out unsuccessful”.
In regard to Megumi’s ashes that were sent to Japan by the North Korean government, He said, “Japan earnestly requested us to send her ashes, so I allowed the government to do that. However, a representative of the Japanese party was supposed to be responsible for passing it over to her parents”.
Mr. Kim criticized that, “Nevertheless, the Japanese representative claimed that the ashes were not really those of Megumi’s, stirring emotions of the Japanese people. It was an insult and abuse against Megumi and me, her husband”.
He then explained how he met Megumi, saying, “For business, I needed to learn Japanese, and in the early 1980s I learned it from Megumi. During the class, I grew to like her, and married her”.
Regarding his job, he said that, “I work in the Unification business. Because North Korea is highly interested in Unification, we have a specialized field for such progress”. He added “After coming to North Korea, I have lived happily and comfortably, thanks to the Party”.
He also said that his daughter, Eun Kung (18) attends Kim Il Sung University, and his son Chul Bong (7) attends at an elementary school. His wife, Park Chun Hwa, studies at a school of the Party, and his father in law is the vice-chairman of the People’s Committee in Pyongyang.
He requested not to have himself or his family used as a political tool.
