Politics
18:44, 19-Jan-2018
Families of Japanese allegedly kidnapped by DPRK seek ICC probe
["china"]
Share
Copied
The International Criminal Court is being asked to investigate the abduction of Japanese by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
The DRRK admitted in 2002 it had kidnapped 13 Japanese in the 1970s and 1980s to train spies, and that five of them were allowed to return to Japan.
But Tokyo says at least 17 people were abducted, and a support group for relatives believes the disappearance of up to 470 Japanese may be linked to Pyongyang.
Families of the missing, and their supporters, will next week submit a petition to the court "seeking punishment of (DPRK leader) Kim Jong Un and request a probe" into the suspected abductions of at least 100 Japanese, support group official Kazuhiro Araki told reporters.
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe receives a petition from members of abduction issue groups at his official residence in Tokyo, July 4, 2014. /Reuters Photo
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe receives a petition from members of abduction issue groups at his official residence in Tokyo, July 4, 2014. /Reuters Photo
The draft petition alleges that "not a small percentage" of the abductees are still alive, and "their freedom is severely restricted," the Kyodo news agency reported.
The move comes amid regional tensions over Pyongyang nuclear weapons and missile drive.
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe discussed the issue in Tokyo on Thursday, pledging to push for the conclusion of a major new bilateral security pact.
Japan's government has said it is "cooperating closely" with the families and supporters over their petition.
Source(s): AFP