Japan court orders compensation for migrants lured to North Korea

A Tokyo court ordered North Korea to pay 88 million yen to four plaintiffs who were lured from Japan decades ago by a propaganda scheme promising an idyllic life. The plaintiffs, part of a larger resettlement program that saw over 90,000 Zainichi Koreans move to North Korea between 1959 and 1984, experienced harsh conditions, including forced labor, before eventually escaping. While a lower court initially rejected the case, citing jurisdictional issues, the Tokyo High Court later ruled in favor of the plaintiffs. This ruling marks the first time a Japanese court has recognized North Korea's malpractice in this context, though enforcing the judgment remains a significant challenge due to North Korea's lack of cooperation.

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