Living hell of North Korea’s ‘paradise on Earth’ scheme back in spotlight in Japan

Between 1959 and 1984, North Korea lured over 90,000 people, mainly ethnic Koreans living in Japan, with promises of a "paradise on Earth," but instead subjected them to hardship and human rights abuses. This week, a Tokyo court ordered North Korea to pay compensation of at least 20 million yen each to four settlers who escaped back to Japan after being denied basic rights and prevented from visiting their families. The lawsuit, launched in 2018, is unlikely to result in actual payment, as North Korea is expected to ignore the ruling. The plaintiffs, among 150 escapees, sought justice for the deceptive scheme, supported by the Japanese government and the Red Cross at the time, which aimed to recruit workers and score a propaganda victory. The court's decision marks the first time a Japanese court has ruled on the matter.

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