Eiko Kawasaki

Eiko Kawasaki is a former resident of Japan who, at the age of 17, was among tens of thousands of people with Korean heritage enticed to relocate to North Korea in the 1960s by promises of a utopian “paradise on Earth.” Instead of the promised prosperity, Kawasaki and others experienced severe hardship, forced labor, and denial of basic human rights. She later escaped North Korea. Kawasaki's experiences are now in the spotlight due to a recent ruling by the Tokyo District Court. The court ordered the North Korean government to compensate Kawasaki and other plaintiffs for the suffering they endured after being lured to North Korea. While the ruling is largely symbolic due to the unlikelihood of North Korea complying, it highlights the ongoing issue of North Korea's deceptive propaganda and its impact on individuals like Kawasaki, and the continued pursuit of justice by victims.