北韓非請勿入區：北韓綁架計畫的真實故事

by Robert S. Boynton, 黃煜文 (translator)

　　一場北韓綁架事件的探索之旅，揭開日韓百年歷史的愛恨情仇。

　　1868年，日本推行明治維新運動，從此進入現代化國家之列。日本挾現代化強權之姿侵略亞洲，便是以韓國為首要目標。1910年日本便吞韓國，直到1945年戰敗為止。二戰後，美蘇託管的朝鮮半島爆發內戰，之後南北分裂。1978年，南北韓政經局勢開始反轉，曾經是亞洲最令人稱道的共產主義政權北韓，逐漸步入貧窮。在共產革命化為餘燼前夕，北韓政府開始採取綁架計畫，首要目標便是曾經統治朝鮮35年的日本。

　　1977年秋，日本濱海城鎮開始出現失蹤案件。由於這些人失蹤的地點非常分散，而人數也不多，因此日本幾乎沒有人將這些失蹤案件聯想起來。這些失蹤案一開始被日本媒體當成都市傳說來談論，就像外星人綁架地球人一樣。當時大家不知道，這些人其實是遭到北韓菁英突擊隊員綁架。受害者不局限於日本人，在1977年到1983年間，亞洲其他地區、東歐與中東有多達數十人失蹤，其中最知名的是南韓明星崔銀姬與導演申相玉。北韓政府將被綁架者集中在平壤附近「非請勿入」的區域，讓北韓情治人員與他們朝夕生活，觀察、學習他們國家的習俗和語言，藉以訓練北韓特工。直到1987年11月大韓航空發生空難，人們才從北韓間諜金賢姬身上找到端倪──她承認自己從一位1978年6月遭綁架的日本女性那裡學習日語。

　　當日本政府與警方發覺這些是綁架案件時，他們卻拒絕正式對外承認，因為這麼做就不得不採取行動，日本當局總是用「無計可施」這句話來合理化他們的不作為。因此，往後四分之一個世紀，數十名被綁架者注定在北韓過著淒苦的日子。被綁架者一般都是成年人，但仍有極少數的孩子亦遭綁架，原因不明。橫田惠與寺越武志遭綁架時都只有十三歲，心智發展還很脆弱，難以面對北韓這樣的異國生活。

　　北韓厲行共產主義之初，這個新的政治路線似乎帶來一片希望。而昔日的殖民者日本，戰後的一代因遭遇戰爭、國家頹敗，而產生嚴重的失落感，共產主義因此成為不再信奉天皇、厭斥資本主義的日本苦悶年輕人的另一條明路，以日本大學生為主要成員的日本赤軍便為其中之一。1970年，由於日本官方大規模掃蕩，迫使日本赤軍決定劫機飛往北韓，未料北韓強制留置他們進行思想改造與婚姻計畫。在1970年代末期綁架計畫時期，北韓也出現為數不多的美國人，幾乎都是來自協防三十八度非戰區時投誠的美國士兵。北韓不僅表示歡迎，還善加利用這些不速之客，讓他們以異國聯姻生育下一代，為北韓培養出「完美的間諜」。

　　日本戰敗後，境內近兩百萬「在日韓國人」面臨了艱難的生存現實。這時北韓提出「歸國計畫」，在國際社會和輿論的支持下，許多在日韓國人選擇自願歸國，於是開始了大規模的遷徙行動。他們到了北韓才發現，原來這裡的生活比日本還要艱苦。金日成嚴密控制下的北韓，對每個人民劃分階級身分，而被綁架者的身分偽裝，便成了夾縫中求生存的必要手段。諷刺的是，當年日本殖民下的產物「在日韓國人」，卻成為被綁架者以「在韓日本人」隱藏身分的最佳說法。

　　日本國內對於北韓的綁架行動一直抱持被動而低調的姿態，直至1990年代，在日歸國韓人的生活處境與日本人遭北韓綁架等實情才見諸報導。日本電視製作人石高健次是挖掘這些事件的重要人物。他透過紀錄片和田調訪問的專書，填補了長久以來日本在北韓議題上的空缺。1990年代末，日本為了區域和平，開始尋求與北韓關係的正常化，而北韓則利用這個外交新局取得金援，以緩解北韓的經濟危機。其中雙方亟待解決的，正是近三十年北韓綁架日本人的疑案。2002年9月17日，日本首相小泉純一郎受邀訪問北韓是歷史性的一刻。不過北韓道出對於此事件的態度與被綁架日本人的統計數字，讓小泉祭出的這帖挽救民調支持度的「猛藥」不但未竟成功，反而對日本民眾投下了一枚震撼彈。

　　北韓與日本會談之後，對綁架事件進行後續處理。弔詭的是，北韓對於綁架日本人這件事絲毫不帶歉疚，反而為他們被綁架到北韓找尋更多粉飾的說辭。睽違二十多年，第一批返國的被綁架者終於再踏上家鄉的土地，但又必須擔憂形同人質留在北韓的家人，因此隨時都要謹言慎行。無論留下來或依約定返回北韓，都是一個艱難的決定。而對於生死未卜的被綁架者家屬而言，看到返國的人是另一種難以承受的傷痛。

　　《北韓非請勿入區》的作者博因頓當時因為看到《紐約時報》一張五位遭綁架日本人返國的新聞照片，而對這個荒誕離奇的故事感到好奇。他追隨這些年輕時被強行帶離家園的人的生命足跡，他們在陌生、封閉且受監視的環境下生活了四分之一個世紀，並結婚生子。他試圖解開綁架事件背後的原因，對被綁架者進行廣泛的訪談，也與民族主義者、左派分子、在日韓國人、間諜、脫北者、外交人員、漁夫等人對談，藉此重建被綁架者在北韓的生活樣貌，探討此事件對其個人的傷害及對日本的影響，並一路追溯一百多年來韓國與日本之間文化與歷史的關係。

　　最後，博因頓說：「我常形容這本書是一項『極限新聞工作』，身為記者的我所做的事就像不使用救生索的攀岩者一樣。我報導的一連串事件跨越數十年，分布在三個國家，使用兩種我完全不懂的語言，我有時覺得自己要不是瘋了，就是極度愚蠢。但我相信，如果正確地加以處理，報導文學確實能在擁有完全不同世界觀的人群間搭起溝通的橋梁，而這本書就是針對這個信念所做的測試。」

　　重要事件：1868年日本明治維新、1910-1945年日本統治韓國、1950-1953年韓戰、1955-1975年越戰、1952年反對日美安保條約運動、1959年在日韓國人返回北韓、1965年南韓與日本關係正常化、1969年日本赤軍成立、1970年淀號劫機事件、1987年大韓航空空難事件、1989年柏林圍牆倒塌、1991年蘇聯瓦解、1994年金日成逝世、1995-2000年北韓大饑荒、2002年金正日與小泉純一郎平壤會談

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Politics, Asia, Japan, International Relations, Adult

312 pages, Paperback

First published November 26, 2019

Reviews

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was riveted, but not because this is a great book. It is an OK book. It was the topic that pulled me in. With the exception of A Kim Jong-Il Production: The Extraordinary True Story of a Kidnapped Filmmaker, His Star Actress, and a Young Dictator's Rise to Power there is more information on North Korea’s policy of abductions here than I have seen anywhere else. Unfortunately the story of the abductions and abductees is sandwiched in with loosely related issues.

After an enticing Prologue on a specific dual abduction, the author goes on his biggest tangent – the racial theories of Japan’s Meiji period and its desire for colonies. With the space devoted to this, you think the book might be an argument that the abductions were retribution for Japan’s treatment of Korea. You later learn more convincing theories: to gain expertise, to get language teachers and translators, to use abductees for spies and/or mate captive couples to produce children to be used as spies.

Kaoru Hasuike, an 1978 abductee released in 2004,seems to be the author’s best source and his story weaves in and out. Through him you learn how couples were abducted, the indoctrination process, the daily life of an abductee, how couples were re-united and married, supervised, how their children were educated and more. There are the stories of Megumi Yokota, Young Yasushi and Yukie Chimura and a few others. You learn about a softer approach to abduction: attractive young people travel abroad and recruit vulnerable students for dream jobs which end up being in North Korea.

A 1987 airline bombing shows how spies can be used. The author credits this event as breaking open North Korea’s well kept secret (although high profile abductees, Choi Eun Hee and Shin Sang-ok, escaped in 1986).

At the end of the book, the author relates the diplomacy that released 5 “missing persons” and stated (admitted? lied about?) the deaths of 8 others. The author does not comment on the over 5,000 abductees, from countries as disparate as Chile and Italy, he had cited earlier who remain.

The book profiles others who wind up in North Korea on their own. Thousands went through the Japanese Communist’s re-patriation project; the noted chef Kenji Fujimoto answered a job ad; the Red Army Faction of true believing 1960’s Japanese youth went to help the North Koreans with a world-wide revolution; and two American soldiers facing military discipline walked across the border.

The author says the abductions continue today. As is typical of this book, that is all that is said of it.

I prefer a book that stays on topic, but I was glued. While it rambles and injects half completed ideas, there is a lot of important material here and it is written in a very readable way.

[Gayla Bassham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book to feed my obsession with North Korea. This is an account of North Korea's official abduction program. Yes, as part of official state policy, North Korea was kidnapping foreign nationals and forcing them to live in North Korea, where they worked as translators and helped train spies. The story that this book tells is fascinating and heartbreaking. I wasn't wild about the presentation, though; Boynton alternates between presenting the point of view of one abducted Japanese man, Kaoru, and a broader perspective on Asian history and Japanese-Korean relations. I found the transitions between the frequent perspective shifts to be jarring and since I was already familiar with a lot of the material in the history chapters, I was usually impatient to get back to Kaoru.

I enjoyed A Kim Jong-Il Production: The Extraordinary True Story of a Kidnapped Filmmaker, His Star Actress, and a Young Dictator's Rise to Power more than this one ("enjoyed" isn't really the right word, but you know what I mean). However, if you don't know a lot of the historical background, this book provides a much better overview and might be a better starting place.

[meri · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 ⭐️

as a part of north korea’s official state policy the country’s intelligence abducted multiple japanese people and planted them in housing areas in north korea designated for this purpose. the purpose however seems to end here – what the abductees exactly were meant to be used for remained slightly unclear. apart from teaching japanese and migrating into north korean society while constantly being watched, it’s not quite clear why the abductions took place.

that’s what robert s. boynton tries to tackle in this book that is a huge journalistic effort. he also discusses japan and korea’s history and interconnectedness, tries to find reasons behind the abductions themselves and the phenomenon as a whole.

a very exciting topic but not a very engaging or exciting book. however, an important one to exist and it portrays parts of north korea via the abductees’ interviews we don’t often get to see. north korea is a terrifying yet somehow fascinating country whose fall seems inevitable.

[Ownbymom Ownby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like many other reviewers, I found the title a bit deceptive, since much more is covered than the DPRK's abduction project. By Chapter 2 I was losing interest except that.....also like other reviewers....I have developed a fascination with North Korean history, etc. In the end, the reader learns about the abduction project, but also how it fits in the larger scheme of North Korean (and Japanese) history. Without understanding that, the project itself would sound even more unbelievable than it already does.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Subject matter was interesting but was not written in a particularly engaging manner.
Did appreciate the historical background that Boynton gave about the development of Korean-Japanese relations, but by interspersing this material between the accounts of the abductees, he broke up the narrative in a way that became distracting.

Given that this subject matter doesn't have that much material on it (the abductees are either dead or don't wish to speak on the matter), I wish Boynton hadn't tried to force additional substance.

[Tim Baker · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this is an interesting topic, North Korea's program to kidnap people to turn them into spies, I felt the jumping around from detailing the overarching program to focusing on a few individual victims didn't really work well. The biggest flaw this book has is that it straddles a lot of angles it can go without choosing one direction and doing it well.

[Katie.dorny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book about a slice of history I didn’t even know existed.

Detailing the abduction of Japanese citizens over decades by North Korea, the book details the history of both countries along the project of kidnapping and the attempted repatriation.

Following several individual’s stories, this really dived deep for such a short book.

[Jess Magee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A stunning portrayal of such horrific events. Told through the eyes of those with different parts to play, this book truly gives you a three dimensional view of a somewhat harrowing and taboo topic.

Perfect for those looking to increase their knowledge on North Korean and Japanese relations.

[Zuzana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely fascinating!! Not only the North Korea part and the lives of the abudctees, but also the history of the Japanese colonialism I knew nothing about and the attempts at racial purity and racims towards Koreans.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but a bit repetitive. For real enthusiasts!

[Michael Malice · Rating 4 out of 5]

MUST READ, one particular chapter will bring to your eyes. Every time I think I've wrapped my head around north Korea's evil, I learn of yet more depravity.

[二六 侯 · Rating 4 out of 5]

典型的美式報導文學，試圖拉開歷史的大帷幕，從日韓十九世紀的恩怨開始講起，依時序多角度論述，除了月黑風高的夜裡被綁走的日本情侶，也兼及在北韓當到的工會幹部的失蹤日本少年、日本赤軍、「返回北韓」的在日韓僑、申相玉與崔銀姬，乃至於投入尋找人質的前左派分子、參與交涉的日本外交官、媒體與學者。不過整體而言還是蓮池薰的故事占的篇幅最多，跟蓮池的回憶錄《誘拐與決斷》搭配著看有互補的效果。

[Bagus · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding work of journalism in North Korea!

This book encompasses the missing pieces of history of post-war Japan and North Korea. To understand the background behind the abductions of Japanese citizens by the North Korean government, ones have to look back into Japan shortly after the Meiji Restoration. “Race” is an alien concept in most of Asian culture, including Japan, before the European colonisation happened. This concept of “race” will be central to the explanation in this book for why and how come there are so many abduction cases happened to the Japanese citizens.

One can never be ignorant of history if one wants to understand the present. Boynton did a great job on noticing how the foundation of the discipline of anthropology in pre-war Japan strongly emphasised the need of Imperial Japan to distinguish itself from its Asian neighbours as a superior race. A concept which in turn will bring Japan into hegemony in the early 1900s and led to its annexation of other countries in Asia under the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere as stipulated by the Japanese Empire.

I like the idea of mixing interrelated disciplines to explain some phenomenon, as employed by Robert Boynton to explain the abduction cases. He didn’t begin by boring expired news cited from random media, but by playing with personal stories of the abductees and providing the readers with clear theoretical background. I find the concept of race superiority which is employed by the Japanese during WWII is helpful in explaining the consequences of Japanese wartime actions into the radical bitterness of the North Koreans in the postwar period.

The book also featured several stories of the abductees, based on firsthand interviews, about the subject of their daily life in the so-called Invitation-Only Zone designated for the foreign abductees. North Korea has returned 5 abductees in 2002 in an attempt to normalise relationships with the Japanese and Kim Jong-il admitted the abduction which his regime had been doing since early 1960s. It’s helpful that these interviews supported the clouded news surrounding the abduction cases which have been a taboo subject for the Japanese government and media before the 2002 state visit by the then Prime Minister Junichirō Koizumi.

However I can’t help but feel sceptical about the real figures of the Japanese citizens who have been abducted by the North Korean government. There’s simply no real figures which can be proven. Real figures might have to wait until unification happens between the two Koreas or if North Korea decides to open up to the outside world. I figure the shock which will happen might be comparable to the discovery of the Stasi’s secret documents after the fall of East Germany.

[Jos M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating exploration of North Korea's Abduction project, by interviewing kidnap victims. This is a sad and strange story, and Boynton humanises the individuals caught in the machinations of dictatorial state. As well, Boynton thoughtfully explores the sheer weirdness of the North Korea state and state policy within the greater context of the relationship between Japan and Korea as a whole. It is impossible to understand the reasoning behind the abduction program without looking at the experience of Korea as a colony of Imperial Japan. I particularly liked the chapter on the way pre-war, racialist anthropology was used as a figleaf for Imperial ambition and how some of those attitudes are still transmitted in North Korea today. Having said that, the epilogue, in which Boynton lays out his theories on journalism, could have well and truly been trimmed.

[Fmartija · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is what I consider a high level narrative of the abductions of Japanese citizens by North Korea, and the subsequent experiences of these abducted Japanese citizens. I say 'high level' because Robert Boynton uses multiple chapters to step away from the actual narrative of the abductions themselves to provide side bar discussion on Japanese culture and history in order give the reader some context on the complicated relationship between Japan and its neighbors. During some of these sidebar chapters I felt, that at some points, the author drove the narrative too far off the tracks with irrelevant background information. Ultimately, the subject matter that the book covers is far more broad than the topic advertised by the book's title.

[Sebastian Song · Rating 4 out of 5]

A most commendable effort by Robert. Though he is unable to reveal the reason for the abduction, a feat probably no one could especially since the passing of the two Kims, he kept the reader engaged about the lives of complete strangers. The epilogue is a must read, a wonderful conclusion to a history of nations, cultures and people.

[Brian Schimmoller · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s books like these that make you realize how narrow your global lens can be. The story of how North Korea abducted dozens of mostly Japanese young people and forced them to raise families in North Korea is amazing in itself. But the more intricate back story of how this ties into the complex history and racial relations between the two nations is just as compelling.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and well written. It has more historical background about the relationship between Korea and Japan than I expected. It has less information about the abduction project and abductees than I was hoping for; I imagine that is still tough info to get. Still, it was very interesting.

[Gaelen · Rating 4 out of 5]

For people who are weirdly obsessed with North Korea, as I am, this is a fascinating account of one of the DPRK's stranger chapters: Its complicated plan to abduct foreigners, many from the shores of Japan.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extraordinary book of in-depth reporting on the abduction of hundreds of Japanese by the North Koreans. Includes historical background and cultural history of both Japan and Korea. Fascinating.

[Carla Norton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating follow-up to WITHOUT YOU THERE IS NO US, by Suki Kim.

[Brian Burphys · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of times while reading this I was struggling to see how certain pieces of information were necessary to the story trying to be told, by the end that worry had ceased as Robert S. Boynton wraps the entire complex web of reporting down to more simple, individual, human stories.

Personally I had never heard of this event apart from fringe cases (Choi Eun-hee and Shin Sang-ok) but each case was a different level of heartbreaking and disbelief.

If this concept strikes your interest I’d definitely recommend it, it’s concise and coherent.

I’ll end this review with a quote from Boynton himself:

“Reporting on a series of events spanning several decades, in three countries, in two languages I do not speak, sometimes struck me as foolish, if not insane”

[Basmaish · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very interesting subject matter, but the way it was written and presented wasn’t for me.

There was a lot of additional material presented that didn’t seem to add much to the main subject matter other than it happening around that time, and I didn’t get the connection. Nor the connection of a few historical information that he adds in between.

[Around the world pick for North Korea.]

[KD · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT A BOOK! Absolutely fascinating and great to share the read with my love.
A great find in Kinokuniya!

[Keave Perera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crazy town

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

讀的有點累，斷斷續續的從市圖電子書借了幾次，總算讀完了！
不是書寫的不好，是因為這一類有點歷史背景的書，本來就不是我的強項，最近又在忙其他事，所以讀很慢。
看了在知道在北韓有這麼一段這麼長的對外國人綁架、間諜、文化洗腦的老大哥故事。

[Ikmal Fitri (iikmalreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sebelum ni aku tak ambik tahu sangat pasal NK. Tapi aku tahu la NK sebuah negara yg isolated, ekonomi dan pembangunan tak seberapa.

Tapi bila baca buku ni, aku dapat new insights tentang NK. Dan aku jadi lagi takut dengan NK. Dan secara jujurnya, aku tak tahu apa yang ada dalam kepala Kim Il Sung waktu dia create NK. Dengan Kim Jong Il pun aku tak faham jugak.

Walaupun content buku ni lari tajuk sikit, tapi bagi aku not bad la untuk bagi exposure. Ada historical facts sikit (walaupun aku rasa macam tak relevan) so terus aku bagi 4 bintang sebab aku memang minat sejarah.

English tak susah sangat, tapi aku rasa susunan content buku ni macam celaru sikit. Dia punya event tak teratur. Disebabkan tu la bagi aku a little bit turn off la.

Apapun, buku ni nice untuk mereka yg nak ambik tahu pasal NK.

[William Chan · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a young couple walks on the beachside in dim light, they are captured by people dressed in black. Very confused and worried, they get thrown on to a ship, were lies many unknown people. During the 1970s to 1980s, people living in Japan were captured and sent to North Korea to be used as translators, teachers, and also as spies for Japan. They couldn't refuse and were forced to do these things. They would isolate the couples and people from any type of communication, and be told to learn 'Juche' (Korean Ideology). After brainwashing them by saying: "You can return to Japan once you learned how to speak Korean." There always was someone looking at them, 24 hours. Not letting them have any way of escaping. They would soon suffer hardships from living in North Korea. As for when it is time to leave (Japan has perswaded to North Korea to return the captured citizens), they had to let the goverment save their children due to if they were to defect.

This book has allowed me to understand the importance of being captured, and forced to do a certain process. It also showed me the hardships of living in North Korea. For example, lack of food, having to move around to avoid being found by the Japanese. Food was so scarce, that even the citizens had to start to plant their own foods.

[Owen Townend · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a random educational opportunity!
I picked this up while shelving at one of the libraries that I work at and realised that North Korea was a bizarre subject that I really wanted to know more about.
Being thoroughly Westernised, I had little idea of Japan's colonisation of its neighbouring countries let alone that it is partially responsible for the Korean divide. However this obviously did not justify the abduction of so many Japanese decades later.
While all of their stories are covered in one way or another, the main focus is on Kaoru Hasuike and Yukiko Okudo, a young couple kidnapped whilst on the beach. While their survival, family and possible brainwashing made for fascinating reading in its own right, the constant return to their storyline amid chapters about other people of interest drew attention to the often unbalanced arrangement of accounts. Also I found that the journalistic style lacked the enthusiasm one would expect to come from such a distressing and, at times, insane story.
Nevertheless I learned a lot about where little Un comes from and will have a more concentrated perspective on where he and his people might be going...