Mainichi Shimbun Report... Sequential Visits from August to November
"First Visit to Zainichi Korean Organizations Since COVID-19"
Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, has reportedly issued a special permit allowing about 140 students from Japan's Chosun University to visit North Korea after the end of August, according to Japanese media.
On the 21st, the Mainichi Shimbun reported that the special permit applies to fourth-year students of Japan's Chosun University, who are scheduled to visit North Korea sequentially from August to November and stay for about one month each. Mainichi explained that this appears to be the first group visit by Zainichi Koreans to North Korea since the spread of COVID-19.
However, it added that since North Korea still enforces strict quarantine policies, it remains unclear to what extent the visiting students will be able to travel to provinces or meet relatives during their visit.
The exterior view of Korean University under Chongryon in Kodaira City, Tokyo Metropolis, Japan [Photo by Kyodo News]
Chosun University, located in Kodaira City, Tokyo, is affiliated with the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), a pro-North Korean organization among Zainichi Koreans, and was established in 1956. The university is classified as a "miscellaneous school" because it has not received official university recognition from Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Among its students are not only those with South Korean nationality but also Japanese nationals. In the 1990s, the student population reached as many as 1,500, but now it is known to be fewer than 600 due to the shrinking influence of Chongryon in Japan.
Mainichi reported that "it is known that the North Korean side has explained that students with South Korean nationality are also allowed to visit North Korea," and that North Korea has allowed students to check in up to 50 kg of luggage per person free of charge when boarding the Air Koryo flight from Beijing to Pyongyang. Because of this, there are concerns within South Korean and Japanese authorities about the possible import of luxury goods into North Korea, which is prohibited under United Nations Security Council sanctions.
Mainichi further noted that while some view the group visit of Chosun University students as a sign of North Korea expanding human exchanges, others believe that North Korea intends to use the visiting students to convey a policy of abandoning peaceful reunification to the Zainichi Korean community.
The newspaper also analyzed that North Korea is demanding Chongryon strictly adhere to a new policy of abandoning peaceful reunification and not regarding South Koreans as compatriots, but this policy change has caused considerable shock to the Zainichi Korean community, which has emphasized independent peaceful reunification.
Regarding the visit of Chosun University students to North Korea, a Japanese government official told Mainichi, "It is not our place to comment on this, but we are monitoring the situation."
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