State of the World from NPR They were promised paradise — in North Korea
Apr 17, 2026
Anthony Kuhn, NPR Tokyo correspondent who reported on Zainichi Koreans repatriated to North Korea. He traces the 1959 repatriation push and propaganda. He describes arrival realities, poverty and suspicion inside North Korea. He covers courtroom actions, escapes and ongoing identity struggles.
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Mass Repatriation Lured By Promise Of Paradise
- Zainichi Koreans in Japan were enticed from 1959 to 1984 to repatriate to North Korea with promises of prosperity and public services.
- Over 90,000 people boarded Soviet ships after signing voluntary forms, lured by propaganda from the pro-North Korean General Association of Korean Residents in Japan.
Tokyo Court Recognizes North Korea's Liability
- Japanese courts can hold North Korea accountable civilly even if enforcement is impractical, as shown by a 2024 Tokyo ruling awarding damages to repatriates.
- The court found North Korea liable and ordered roughly $142,000 per plaintiff, symbolically recognizing human-rights violations.
Eiko Kawasaki's Harrowing Life In North Korea
- Eiko Kawasaki arrived in North Korea expecting to inspect a rebuilding nation but instead found malnutrition and people with gaunt faces.
- She worked in a machine factory, was suspected as a spy, and survived the 1990s famine before defecting in 2003.