Japan police raid pro-North Korea group residences

[KimJongUn]

Japan police raid pro-North Korea group residences

Raids come in connection to smuggling charges against S.Korean trader, may be due to stagnant abductee investigation

March 28th, 2015 Ha-young Choi

Japanese police raided the residences of six Chongryon’ members Thursday, including the home of its chairman Ho Jong Man.

Japanese police said the trading company Toho, based in Tokyo and owned by South Korean Lee Dong-cheol, has been smuggling North Korean pine mushrooms and that Chongryon is connected to this operation.

Toho is alleged to have imported 1,200kg of North Korean mushrooms, valued at approximately $25,000, through Shanghai and the Kansai airport in Japan, labeling them Chinese goods.

Importing North Korean products has been illegal in Japan since October 2006 due to sanctions stemming from the North Korean nuclear test and missile launch of that year. Despite the Stockholm Agreement announced last May, relaxing some sanctions including on transferring money and the comings and goings of ships for humanitarian purposes, trade between Japan and North Korea is still not allowed.

The General Association of North Korean Residents in Japan, or Chongryon, has functioned as the de facto embassy of DPRK in Japan, as the two nations have no official diplomatic relations.

“Though its role has been restricted due to the sanctions, Chongryon is a very important organization for North Korea, for ensuring foreign currency, importing luxury goods and collecting information,” Sejong Institute vice director Lee Myun-woo told NK News.

According to the NK Leadership Tracker, Ho Jong Man has been working at Chongryon headquarters in Tokyo since 1959, and was appointed chairman in 2012.

“The chairman of Chongryon is considered a high-level official who can personally meet with the North Korean leader,” Lee said.

Chongryon has strongly rebutted the smuggling allegation, saying there is no correlation between them and the alleged crime.

“The chairman and vice chairman of Chongryon have never known of the company or the president of the company,” a statement from the organization said.

Chongryong defined this incident as a “base” behavior encouraging misunderstanding and hostility toward the DPRK. Chongryon also suspects the “involvement of the Japanese government and prime minister” due to political motives.

Chongryon also stated that the Japanese government has a responsibility, given the ongoing investigation of North Korea’s 1977-83 abductions of Japanese civilians following the Stockholm agreement.

“The most sensitive, biggest issue between North Korea and Japan is the abductees, which is urgent for Japanese government. Given that the negotiations regarding the abductee issue have not been solved after almost a year, with the sudden raid against Chongryon it seems that Japan is exerting pressure to North Korea,” Lee said.

The North’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) has reported on North Korean pine mushrooms, touting their health benefits. These days, the North Korean company Rason Taehung Trading Company produces pine mushroom broth.